Alan wrote this novel after WW II. It is about a seventeen-years-old boy called Smith who lives in a juvenile detention center and practices long-distance running there.
He divides society into two parts: the "In-laws" and the "Out-laws".
His opponent is the governor of Borstal who wants Smith to win the B. Price Cup for Cross-Country Running of all England.
But Smith does not want to win it; instead he wants to prove his independence.
Main parts of this novel deal with the thoughts Smith's during long-distance running: how and why he plans to take revange.
That is why this book could be interesting for psychiatrists.
These whole novel consists of internat action

Auf einem Schaltkasten vor dem Magasin abgelegt.