Room At The Top

Braine's first and most successful novel of working-class 'angst' and the struggle of 'angry young man' Joe Lampton. Anxious to climb the social ladder by whatever means possible in post-war Britain, he is determined to make something of himself, targeting a high-paid job. He notices a young man with an expensive car and a pretty girlfriend and realises that this lifestyle and appearance is what he aspires to. The book centres on Joe's efforts to secure a future he can take pride in, but disaster and remorse are never far away either.

This 20th century classic has also been filmed and made into a TV series. The reader Kevin Whateley is a great British talent, affectionately known for his role as 'Lewis', who appeared first in Morse.