The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, made in Hastings!

Here's an atmospheric styled photograph of the cover of my copy of the Hastings edition of Robert Tressell's (used name Robert Noonan, born Croker) The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists. Tressell lived and worked in Hastings for nearly 10 years at the beginning of the 20th century, indeed, he wrote this book whilst living here, it was based on his work as a painter and decorator in Hastings and contemporary social conditions, and the town was renamed Mugsborough in the book, though, essentially this was Hastings.

Similar view taken yesterday

The Hastings edition is a complete unabridged version, and contains excellent photographs of both Noonan and his daughter Kathleen, and many intriguing images of contemporary Hastings from just over 100 years ago. It is still available from the Visitors Centre at Muriel Matters House, though numbers appear to be receding fast, and apparently can also be bought online for £2.99 + £2.25 p&p; go to the Famously Hastings website.

Hurry, hurry, hurry!

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists

OK, like most of us, I already had a copy in my possession of this excellent novel, The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, written by Robert Noonan under the pseudonym Robert Tressell. Written over 100 years ago, whilst Noonan was working and living in Hastings and St Leonards, and first published after his death as his daughter, Kathleen, continued with the cause. My older copy is a reprint of the hardback that came out in 1955 containing his full manuscript, and was given to me by my mother over 30 years ago.

But, yesterday, as I was walking past Aquila House, Breeds Place, I noticed they were selling paperback copies of this "Hastings Edition" which was originally published in its centenary year, 2014. This is excellent value, just £2.99 for the full text, information about the author and his family, and relevant photographs of Hastings and St Leonards from over 100 years ago, a pleasure to peruse these old images of Noonan, his daughter, and local buildings, many of which you will recognise still. 

Have a guess which book I bought and have just started re-reading!