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Office Life
‘What I meant was, what does the company do? What is British Albion in aid of?’
It was a very good question. For sure British Albion was a comfortable billet for Clement Bryce, but before long he realises there is something very odd afoot. Why do the telephones never ring, and why are there so many forms circulating from one department to the next?
Bryce has been a clerk all his life, and has no ambition at all. But even he begins to feel that the complete lack of anything approaching real work at his new company is quite peculiar.
Soon he finds that some of his colleagues share his curiosity about the true purpose of the company that employs them. Although married, he dreams of dalliance with the attractive Pam Fawce, or Miss Divorce as she is known to her colleagues. Can he worm his way into the mysterious Albion Players, the drama club over which she presides?
Originally published in 1978, Office Life is both a hilarious satire on corporate culture and an intriguing mystery story set in the nine-to-five world. Before the 80s Greed is Good culture kicked in, this was work as it was known in the UK. Keith Waterhouse was a foremost satirist of the late 20th Century, and in this novel he skewers the monotony and tedium, the backstabbing and flirting of office culture with customary brilliance.
‘A fine book, from an author full of wit and good nature’ – Melvyn Bragg, Punch
‘Keith Waterhouse is one of the few great writers of our time…he is not only among the funniest, he is also among the wittiest and most observant’ – Auberon Waugh
Keith Waterhouse was one of the most successful writers of mid-century Britain. Born in Leeds in 1929, the son of a costermonger, he worked first at the Yorkshire Post before moving to London, where he began a long career at the Daily Mirror. He published a number of novels, including Billy Liar and Office Life , as well as the hilarious Theory and Practice of Lunch . He wrote the script for hit play Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell and for many films, including Whistle Down the Wind . During his time at the Mirror he campaigned against the colour bar in Britain as well as other liberal causes. He died in 2009 at his home in London.
It was a very good question. For sure British Albion was a comfortable billet for Clement Bryce, but before long he realises there is something very odd afoot. Why do the telephones never ring, and why are there so many forms circulating from one department to the next?
Bryce has been a clerk all his life, and has no ambition at all. But even he begins to feel that the complete lack of anything approaching real work at his new company is quite peculiar.
Soon he finds that some of his colleagues share his curiosity about the true purpose of the company that employs them. Although married, he dreams of dalliance with the attractive Pam Fawce, or Miss Divorce as she is known to her colleagues. Can he worm his way into the mysterious Albion Players, the drama club over which she presides?
Originally published in 1978, Office Life is both a hilarious satire on corporate culture and an intriguing mystery story set in the nine-to-five world. Before the 80s Greed is Good culture kicked in, this was work as it was known in the UK. Keith Waterhouse was a foremost satirist of the late 20th Century, and in this novel he skewers the monotony and tedium, the backstabbing and flirting of office culture with customary brilliance.
‘A fine book, from an author full of wit and good nature’ – Melvyn Bragg, Punch
‘Keith Waterhouse is one of the few great writers of our time…he is not only among the funniest, he is also among the wittiest and most observant’ – Auberon Waugh
Keith Waterhouse was one of the most successful writers of mid-century Britain. Born in Leeds in 1929, the son of a costermonger, he worked first at the Yorkshire Post before moving to London, where he began a long career at the Daily Mirror. He published a number of novels, including Billy Liar and Office Life , as well as the hilarious Theory and Practice of Lunch . He wrote the script for hit play Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell and for many films, including Whistle Down the Wind . During his time at the Mirror he campaigned against the colour bar in Britain as well as other liberal causes. He died in 2009 at his home in London.
304 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1978
1 person is currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Keith Waterhouse
87 books28 followersKeith Spencer Waterhouse CBE, was a novelist, newspaper columnist, and the writer of many television series.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 5, 2014
Extremely realistic (I work for the Government)
April 26, 2016
Bit overextended but still intriguing. And you'll find couple of interesting conspiracy ideas inside)
October 14, 2019
An ordinary joe gets an undemanding office job. He doesn't want a career - just a job. He's good at keeping records and remembering catalogue numbers. He gets on well with his new colleagues. Like him, they love extended chats over cups of tea about the traffic on the way in, the choice of biscuits, the Byzantine methods of paying for them. He thinks he'll settle in here.
But despite himself, he begins to get interested in the way the place is run. It's a big building, and he can't work out quite what the firm DOES. (I've had temp jobs like that.) There's a subsidized canteen, but to get your lunch you need to queue at a window for a book of tickets, queue at another window to get your book stamped, queue at another window to get your tickets torn off... (All very like wartime rationing, not such a distant memory when this book was written.)
One of his colleagues grumbles about the amateur dramatic society. Such a clique! She can't understand why they wouldn't let her join. Our hero begins to fall for a married colleague who keeps inviting him for conspiratorial drinks after work. Is she sounding him out in some way?
One day he gets out of the lift at the wrong floor, and finds himself in an equipment store - full of perfectly new desks. He begins to wonder why the phones never ring. He begins to notice that he and his colleagues don't actually do any work - ever. He begins to roam the building looking for normal departments like the postroom, and "goods inward". Nothing. Nothing comes in. Nothing goes out. They're not making anything.
Eventually he is asked to join the "dramatic society". Others have noticed that "Albion Ltd" is completely functionless. It is part of a secret government plan to persuade people that they have a job (and they get a paycheck every week). So much better than dole queues and protest marches.
But the "dramatic society" are sick of it. Albion Ltd started out as a printing firm, and they have resurrected an old press and are producing fliers and posters. I can't remember how it ends! I'll have to reread.
But at the time it was written, it was dangerously close to reality.
Its only flaw is an occasional reliance on music-hall jokes about halitosis etc.
But despite himself, he begins to get interested in the way the place is run. It's a big building, and he can't work out quite what the firm DOES. (I've had temp jobs like that.) There's a subsidized canteen, but to get your lunch you need to queue at a window for a book of tickets, queue at another window to get your book stamped, queue at another window to get your tickets torn off... (All very like wartime rationing, not such a distant memory when this book was written.)
One of his colleagues grumbles about the amateur dramatic society. Such a clique! She can't understand why they wouldn't let her join. Our hero begins to fall for a married colleague who keeps inviting him for conspiratorial drinks after work. Is she sounding him out in some way?
One day he gets out of the lift at the wrong floor, and finds himself in an equipment store - full of perfectly new desks. He begins to wonder why the phones never ring. He begins to notice that he and his colleagues don't actually do any work - ever. He begins to roam the building looking for normal departments like the postroom, and "goods inward". Nothing. Nothing comes in. Nothing goes out. They're not making anything.
Eventually he is asked to join the "dramatic society". Others have noticed that "Albion Ltd" is completely functionless. It is part of a secret government plan to persuade people that they have a job (and they get a paycheck every week). So much better than dole queues and protest marches.
But the "dramatic society" are sick of it. Albion Ltd started out as a printing firm, and they have resurrected an old press and are producing fliers and posters. I can't remember how it ends! I'll have to reread.
But at the time it was written, it was dangerously close to reality.
Its only flaw is an occasional reliance on music-hall jokes about halitosis etc.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2020
One of my favourite films is Billy Liar starring one of my favourite actors, Tom Courtney, so when I bought this book (in the 1980's) I expected to be reading something fantastic. Alas, it is a workman-like book. I'm sorry to give it only two stars. Gutted...
October 24, 2020
Office Life is both a satire on the nine to five culture and a mystery. Clem Gryee joins a new office and is intrigued by the goings on and his investigating leads to surprising results.
March 6, 2023
Got it from Stretford Library back in the day. A cracking read, I need to read it again.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews