Born in Captivity (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: John Wain
- First Published: 1953
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Comic realism
- Time of Work: The late 1940’s
- Setting: Various English towns and a Sussex country estate
- Genres: Long fiction, Satire, Picaresque fiction
- Subjects: Self-discovery, Authors or writers, Social issues, 1940’s, Class consciousness, England or English people, Drug trafficking or dealing, Adventure, Jokes
- Locales: England
Characters Discussed
Charles Lumley, a job seeker. A young man in his twenties whose appearance is as unimpressive as his university degree, Lumley has no money and no idea what to do with his life. Highly imaginative, he often defends himself by making up outlandish tales. At other times, when pressed, he abandons his usual apologetic manner and gentlemanly self-effacement to become verbally abusive or physically violent. In his attempt to avoid living up to his parents’ expectations, he takes jobs as a window washer, a driver, a hospital orderly, a bouncer, and a chauffeur...
[The entire page is 697 words long]
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