(1965) was Alan Sillitoe’s fourth novel and the first of a trilogy which includes

(1967) and

(1974). It has the widest social and geographical scope of his novels so far, sending its protagonist, Frank Dawley, an escapee from working-class life, into Lincolnshire (with flashbacks to Nottingham), and then on to London, Spain, Majorca, Tangier and the Morrocan/Algerian border, and involving him in successive relationships with two middle-class married women, Pat Shipley and Myra Bassingfield.

is told in the third person and moves between the points of view of Frank, Pat and Myra, and their respective husbands, Keith and George. Compared to Sillitoe’s three previous novels, it is a hybrid work in terms of genre.

3762 words

Citation: Tredell, Nicolas. "The Death of William Posters". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 15 July 2010 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=14275, accessed 26 November 2024.]