"Caliban Shrieks" is a forgotten piece of literature of the British class from the 1930s depicting a laborer's life in the early 20th century, which takes form in the lines of the poem. The protagonist moves from poverty as a child to encountering the harsh lives and fights of those in a factory and the reality of war, followed by homelessness and uncertainty after his military service.
Jack Hilton's autobiographical novel, recently rediscovered in Salford's Working Class Movement Library, resonates with themes of disenfranchisement and societal injustice. With new introductions by Andrew McMillan and Jack Chadwick, this bold modernist retelling continues to captivate readers with its passionate depiction of a lost generation's struggles in post-war England.
Born in 1900 in Oldham, Lancashire, Hilton led a diverse life marked by service in WWI, activism in Rochdale's Worker's Rights movement, and eventual homelessness. Banned from speechwriting, he turned to prose, crafting his autobiographical novel, "Caliban Shrieks," during periods of unemployment.
Rediscovered in 2022, Hilton's works, including "Caliban Shrieks," shed light on his impactful yet short-lived literary career, influencing British political writing. Hilton later returned to plastering, retiring from writing in 1950. His works, once thought lost, have been republished, ensuring his legacy endures.
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The Guardian stated this is a biography of two interlinked topics - personal and social life in the 1930s England Workers Movement. The acclaimed lost literary work reflects social problems written with earnest prose, quoting Caliban Shakespeare to characterize the narrator's loss of hope and discontent.
Hilton's vivid and occasionally funny narrative style immerses the readers in the post-World War I situation and shows the life of ordinary people. The book's first half is stunningly described, as the narrator tells about his upbringing and time spent in the war. At the same time, the latter part of the novel has a more essay-like approach, where the narrator delivers a sharp critique of the social classes and ideologies.
This work, disregarding the language and chaotic structure of the text, is Hilton's emblem of his literary talent and his unwavering commitment to raising the plight of marginalized people. Rediscovery of this work brings to attention an overlooked voice in British literature. It offers the readers a unique view of the difficulties of the working class in troubled times of history.
An article from Proletics articulated that the book is a remarkable piece blending autobiography, political discourse, and artful rant, capturing the struggles of the working class in 1930s England. Born in Oldham in 1900, Hilton's early life experiences, including working in a cotton mill and serving in World War I, deeply influenced his perspective on class and society.
His involvement in union activities and subsequent ban on public speaking propelled him toward writing. The publication of "Caliban Shrieks" in 1935, facilitated by a fortuitous mix-up, marked Hilton's entry into the literary world.
The book garnered praise from notable figures like George Orwell and W.H. Auden, earning Hilton recognition and a scholarship to Ruskin College, Oxford. Despite being overshadowed by other working-class voices, Hilton's distinct perspective offers valuable insights into the socio-economic struggles of the inter-war period. Efforts to republish his work aim to shed light on this overlooked literary figure and his contribution to understanding the perspective of the working class.
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