Sundry Creditors (1953)

What is Sundry Creditors?

It is Nigel Balchin’s tenth novel, which was first published on 4 May 1953. The text of the novel itself is 309 pages long, and this new edition also includes an introduction, notes and reading recommendations for other ‘factory novels’.

Synopsis

Lang’s Engineering Works is a medium-sized factory in the English Midlands specializing in making steel products. Gustavus Lang, Chairman and son of the founder, dies early on in the story and his half-brother, Walter, succeeds him as Chairman. Rosamund Lang, Walter’s bored but beautiful teenage daughter, begins going out with Jack Partridge, a shopfloor worker at Lang’s, and the pair take great pains to keep their relationship secret. Walter facilitates the sale of Gustavus’s shares in Lang’s to a rival businessman with whom he is on friendly terms and, having done so, believes that he effectively has control of the company. Jack takes Rosamund on holiday with him and, when Walter is tipped off about this, he gets his car out of the garage and settles down to a long, cross-country drive to the South Coast to remonstrate with his daughter. Now read on…

(Covers of all editions)

Click here for a more detailed synopsis but please beware of plot spoilers!

Praise for Sundry Creditors:

‘As a novel about business decisions this book is right out on its own’ – Clive James

‘readable and clever’ – John Betjeman

‘Balchin […] writes about timeless things, the places in the heart’ – Ruth Rendell

Why Should I Read This Book?

Entertaining, absorbing, amusing and fascinatingly detailed, Sundry Creditors is a box of delights. It also contains one of the best casts of fictional characters you’re ever likely to encounter, embedded in a highly readable narrative.

How Can I Buy Sundry Creditors?

Sundry Creditors is now available to purchase in print (£9.99) and ebook (£3.99) versions from Amazon via these links:

Sundry Creditors: Amazon.co.uk: Balchin, Mr Nigel Marlin, Collett, Mr Derek Michael: 9781914076329: Books

Sundry Creditors eBook : Balchin, Nigel, Marlin, Collett, Derek, Michael: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

You can also obtain the book from the websites of Foyles, Waterstones or Blackwell’s or by placing an order with any UK bookshop.

In the event of any problems with obtaining the book, please contact the curator of the Nigel Balchin Collection, Derek Collett, at this email address: derekcollett1965@gmail.com