best working class novels

One of the best is 'The Grapes of Wrath' by John Steinbeck. It vividly depicts the struggles of the working - class during the Great Depression as they face poverty, displacement, and exploitation. Another is 'Hard Times' by Charles Dickens, which shows the harsh conditions of the working class in an industrial society. And 'Germinal' by Émile Zola is also great, portraying the miners' difficult lives and their fight for better conditions.

One of the best is 'Saturday Night and Sunday Morning' by Alan Sillitoe. It vividly portrays the life of a young factory worker in Nottingham. Another great one is 'A Taste of Honey' by Shelagh Delaney, which explores the relationship between a young working - class girl and her mother. 'The Ragged - Trousered Philanthropists' by Robert Tressell is also a classic, showing the exploitation of workers in the building trade.

For beginners, I'd recommend 'Hard Times'. Dickens' writing style is engaging, and it clearly shows the working - class situation in an industrial setting. 'The Jungle' is also a good choice. It's quite eye - opening about the working conditions of the working class in a specific industry. Also, 'Sister Carrie' can be a good start as it tells the story of a working - class woman's journey in a big city in a very vivid way.

Sure. 'Kes' by Barry Hines is a great one. It's about a boy from a working - class family who finds solace in training a kestrel. 'Waterland' by Graham Swift is also notable. It combines family history with the working - class environment in the Fens. And 'The Millstone' by Margaret Drabble is worth reading, exploring the life of a single mother in a working - class context.

One characteristic is the portrayal of economic struggle. These stories often show how the working - class characters face poverty, like in 'Sweat' where the main character has to work hard just to make ends meet. Another is the sense of limited opportunity. In many such stories, characters don't have much room for upward mobility. For example, in 'A&P', the young clerk's act of rebellion doesn't really lead to a big change in his life situation.

Often, modern working - class novels also deal with issues of social mobility. They might show characters trying to break free from the cycle of poverty and the limitations of their working - class background, either through education or some form of self - improvement.

One characteristic is the portrayal of the harsh living and working conditions. They often show the struggles of the working class in factories, mines etc. For example, in 'Hard Times' by Dickens, the industrial town setting and the difficult lives of the workers are vividly depicted.

Sure. 'Bartleby, the Scrivener' by Herman Melville can be considered. It focuses on a low - level office worker in a law firm and his strange behavior. Then there's 'The Rocking - Horse Winner' by D. H. Lawrence, which touches on the working - class family's pursuit of wealth. 'Araby' by James Joyce also has elements of the working - class experience as it shows a young boy's journey in a somewhat drab urban setting.

Well, 'Jude the Obscure' by Thomas Hardy can be considered among classic working class novels. It tells the story of Jude, a working - class man with big dreams but facing many social and economic hardships. Then there's 'Sons and Lovers' by D. H. Lawrence, which delves into the life of a working - class family, exploring themes like class differences and family relationships. And 'Candida' by George Bernard Shaw also gives insights into the working - class situation through its characters and plot.

Classic working class novels made the upper classes more aware of the plight of the working class. For example, Dickens' works like 'Hard Times' showed the difficult living and working conditions, which led to some social reforms.