A voice-driven, penetrating novel of the exploitation and alienation of the working class.
In one strand, a young family bumps and scrapes through life. The hapless father balances demanding factory shiftwork, while the mother constantly prioritises the needs of others over her own. But there is also happiness: a trip to the seaside; sibling squabbles, games and laughter; tenderness and support. In another strand, a young woman describes her days working in a burger chain. It is exhausting, repetitive labour, too often peopled by tricky customers and even trickier managers. Hours pass. Days, weeks, years. It is an existence that marks the body and mind and governs a life.
What emerges, alive with eloquent detail, is a compelling exploration of social inequality. Writing with nimble nuance, a sly, subtle wit, and a sharp ear, Claire Baglin marks her debut in On the Clock as a blazingly original talent.
‘Gorgeously written, and deeply considered in its execution. Claire Baglin is an astonishing writer, and she has written a novel that captures an experience that people aren’t confronted with often enough in contemporary literature: the day-to-day reality of what it means to struggle, to get through the next shift, and most importantly, to live.’ Michael Magee
‘Vibrating with tension, On the Clock intertwines past and present and finds both darkness and humanity in the daily soulless work. A beautiful discovery.’ Elisa Shua Dusapin
‘A compelling portrait of factotum life, this masterfully executed novel shines a light on the repetitive toil of the shop floor.’ Adelle Stripe
