Harry.

Harry is the main character in the Strike, which is the longest story in the novel. He is married to a woman called Mary and works in a steel factory. Though the author describes him as one of the worst workers in the company, he holds a valuable position as a trade union steward, making it almost impossible for the management to sack him. Harry knows this and often leaves his work station to walk around and remind his fellow workers that their duty is towards the union and not the company.

Yet Harry is miserable. Not only does he hate having sex with his wife, he sees her only as someone there to prevent him becoming what he could be. At the beginning of the story, this person is unclear to him, but a strike at work shows a glimpse of a new and better life.

The...