Arthur Machin, a rugged rugby player in a northern English industrial town, struggles to reconcile his physical prowess with his inability to form meaningful emotional connections. Driven by a desire for status and escape from his bleak surroundings, Machin navigates the brutal world of professional rugby league. He faces opposition from the rigid social hierarchy of his town, the demands of his club, and the complexities of his volatile relationship with his landlady, Mrs. Hammond. The narrative is presented through a first-person perspective, capturing the raw, unvarnished reality of a man who communicates primarily through action rather than introspection.

Discussion often centers on the stark realism of the prose and the author's ability to capture the atmosphere of post-war northern England. Readers frequently highlight the protagonist's internal conflict, noting that his physical aggression acts as a barrier to his emotional growth. Critics often point to the book's influence on the kitchen sink realism movement, praising its refusal to romanticize the working-class experience. The pacing is described as deliberate, focusing more on the psychological state of the characters than on the mechanics of the sport itself.