Read this years ago for a British History course. The professor, who was from England, said it was a well-written reflection of one aspect of British life in the 1950s. Sillitoe also wrote The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner.
"If you're Arthur Seaton, working man, you pit your muscles and your guts aagainst the precision-machine lathe five days a week. Monday to Friday you live in the factory reek of oil-suds and sahved steel. Payday comes, and you pocket yoru boodle, minus a load for th damn taxes. You vaguely long to blow up The Establishment, but suddenly--it's Saturday night..."
The young Michael Caine (or Sean Connery) would have been great for a movie of this novel.

RELEASE NOTES:

Left on bookshelf to right of door as you enter.