The Loneliness of the Long-distance Runner by Alan Sillitoe
This novel revolves around a rebellious young man from a working-class background who finds solace in long-distance running. After being sent to a Borstal (youth detention center) for robbing a bakery, he is selected for the institution's cross-country running team due to his talent for running. However, he uses the solitude of his long-distance runs to reflect on his life and the class system that has landed him in his current situation. Despite the expectations placed on him, he ultimately chooses to assert his independence in a final act of defiance, symbolizing his rejection of the system that seeks to control him.
The 1608th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1959
- Nationality
- British
- Length
- Short
- Pages
- 176
- Original Language
- English
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- Alternate Titles
- None
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This book is on the following 3 lists:
- 500 Must Read Books (The Daily Telegraph)
- Finest Works of Fiction (Martin Seymour-Smith and Editors)
- Harenberg Buch der 1000 Bücher (Harenberg Buch der 1000 Bücher)