The Night-Soil Men
by Bill Broady
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Pub Date 15 Jun 2024 | Archive Date Not set
Salt Publishing | Salt
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Description
Broady’s major work of fiction, nearly a decade in the writing, explores the origins and development of the Independent Labour Party – the working-class political movement founded in Bradford in 1893. Detailing the exploits, fortunes, and relationships of three central characters: passionate Fred Jowett, ruthless Philip Snowden (later, the Labour Party’s first chancellor), and the licentious and unforgettable Victor Grayson.
Spanning four decades, the novel covers the socialist foment and activism of fin-de-siècle Britain, the impact of the First World War and the changing landscape of the interwar years, as social change points forward to a new politics and the reinvention of Britain, despite fierce resistance from the establishment and its allies. And all punctuated with sex, comrades, hustings, art, dialect and copious points of order.
With cameos of every leading socialist of the age, this sweeping generational tale is thrilling, revolutionary, ribald and laugh-out-loud funny.
Advance Praise
Praise for Previous Work
‘Broady choreographs his imagery and themes with dexterity and verve … and infuses this book with an unusual kind of grace.’ —Time Out
‘A poignant yet surreal love story … Eternity is Temporary vividly recalls 1976’s long, hot summer of Pistols and pogoing.’ —InStyle Magazine
‘It's full of drifting imagery, heady with the fever of first love, city heat and rock ’n’ roll.’ —Metro
‘A pin-sharp depiction of the sex, sherry and shackles in a care home.’ —Independent on Sunday, Critics Choice
‘Broady counts as a true original, a writer who keeps our judgements nicely suspended and our senses keenly primed.’ —The Independent
‘Broady writes with rude, comic dynamism.’ —Financial Times
‘Packed with vivid characters of extraordinary potential, this is a story where the everyday and the spectacular merge seamlessly.’ —New Books Magazine
‘A dark, shimmery story, full of damage and wonder.’ —Elle
Marketing Plan
Review coverage: Big Issue, The Guardian, Daily Mail, Evening Standard, Observer, Telegraph, Times, Sunday Times • Events include: Launch at The Bradford Literature Festival • National and Regional select press features: Cambridge Evening News, Esquire, Blacklisted Podcast, Cardiff-based Western Mail • Broadcast opportunities: Bookmark Cambridge 105, Monocle, Talk Radio, Front Row.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781784633189 |
| PRICE | £12.99 (GBP) |
| PAGES | 480 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Andrea B, Educator
A superbly researched novelisation of the beginnings of the Labour Party movement in the UK, The Night-Soil Men highlights that British Labour is definitely a big-tent party. Reading it during this year's election-cycle has been especially interesting.
A strong recommendation for people interested in political and social history, I will be recommending that Politics Students at my school might like to read this to understand the negotiations that went on at the beginning of the 20th century in the UK political sphere. Focusing on the contributions of a few key parts of the party and their key players this gives an excellent introduction to the movement and the factions that sometimes make it difficult for Labour to lead. As we enter only the fifth Labour government in British history, it's important to understand how they got there and where their roots lie.
A very interesting story.
