Caliban Shrieks

Caliban Shrieks is a lost masterpiece of 1930s British literature that follows the narrator's journey from poverty to factory life and war. It is a bold modernist retelling of the myth of disenfranchisement and slavery, and was rediscovered in 2022 by the Salford Working Class Movement Library.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 07 March 2024
Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Caliban Shrieks is a captivating portrayal of life as a young working-class man born in the early 20th century. This lost masterpiece of British literature from the 1930s takes readers on a lyrical journey through the narrator's experiences, from a childhood marked by poverty and joy to the harsh realities of factory life and the senseless brutality of war.

The narrator's journey begins with a childhood spent in poverty, yet filled with moments of pure joy and freedom. Despite the hardships, he finds solace in the natural world and the company of his friends. However, as he grows older, the realities of factory life and the call to duty cast a shadow over his youthful dreams.

The narrator is enlisted into the army, where he experiences the horrors of war firsthand. He returns home a broken man, physically and mentally scarred by his experiences. But rather than finding solace in his former life, he is thrust into an uncertain cycle of working life as it unfolds in the post-war years.

Caliban Shrieks is a poignant exploration of the disenfranchisement of the working class and the consequences of their exploitation. The novel is filled with vivid characters who represent the struggles and aspirations of the working-class community. The narrator, for instance, is a man who has been stripped of his dignity and sense of purpose by the oppressive system that surrounds him.

Hilton's autobiographical novel is a bold modernist retelling of the myth of how we find ourselves disenfranchised from the world and sold into a slavery of our making. Through the narrator's experiences, the novel sheds light on the social and economic inequalities that exist in society and the ways in which they are perpetuated by those in power.

Caliban Shrieks was lost to time for decades, until it was rediscovered again in the Salford's Working Class Movement Library in 2022. This discovery has brought the novel back into the spotlight, and it continues to speak as brash and impassioned as it did on its first rave publication in 1935.

The novel's wit and unusual style make it a standout among British literature. George Orwell, for example, praised it as "magnificent," while W.H. Auden described it as "witty and unusual."

In conclusion, Caliban Shrieks is a lost masterpiece of British literature that offers a powerful portrayal of life as a young working-class man in the early 20th century. Through its lyrical prose and vivid characters, the novel sheds light on the disenfranchisement of the working class and the consequences of their exploitation. This novel is a testament to the enduring power of literature to challenge societal norms and inspire change.

Weight: 280g
Dimension: 209 x 136 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781784878757