The Achievement of Desire, Chapter 2 Summary

Richard's parents read both Spanish and English, but only out of necessity. Richard's teachers persuade him that reading books provides a way to gain knowledge and learn. Hoggart suggests that the scholarship boy reads books that are not introduced in school and unaccepted at home. Fearful of what books will do to him, Richard does not participate in reading and is sent to take a remedial reading class. While in remedial class, Richard admits to himself that he is afraid of books, because he believes they will make him educated. Richard begins to embrace books. He reads every book on the teacher's reading list and checks out 10 books at a time. Richard spends so much time reading, that his mother begins to question him about what he sees in books. His only answer to his...