"As a novel it stands very high, but it is in its qualities as a "social document" that its great value lies." — Times Literary Supplement

Set in Hanky Park near Salford, this story follows Harry and Sally Hardcastle as they navigate life in an unforgiving society burdened by grinding poverty. Exploited by bookies and pawnbrokers, tormented by petty officials, and haunted by the ever-present threat of the dole queue and the Means Test, their lives are a stark reflection of working-class struggles.

Harry’s romance with a local girl leads to a shotgun marriage and estrangement from his family, pushing him towards the temptation of crime. Meanwhile, Sally falls in love with Larry Meath, a self-educated Marxist, whose ill health and the presence of more powerful rivals complicate their relationship. This poignant narrative blends social realism with human drama, offering both a compelling story and a vivid social commentary.