The Unknown Industrial Prisoner

Australiana Classics Poetry & Drama

David Ireland’s Miles Franklin-winning novel The Unknown Industrial Prisoner lands in this scarce 1979 Australian hardcover, its dust jacket still bright and now inscribed by a previous owner. Set inside a sprawling refinery, the story blends bleak industrial drama with black humour as workers wrestle loyalty, sabotage and the grind of the machine.

Collectors prize this early edition for its raw portrait of 1970s labour life and for Ireland’s signature satirical voice. Though a name is crossed out on the front endpaper and light foxing speckles the page edges, the binding remains tight and the text block clean, offering a solid shelf presence that suits readers and collectors alike.

A smoke-free home has preserved the book’s integrity; occasional spots do not intrude on readability. From the first shift whistle to the final ironic twist, this vintage Australian novel delivers a powerful, still-relevant commentary on work, identity and resistance.