Why yes, there is. Nevil Shute is a now-neglected author who was extremely popular in the 1940's and 50's.

His book Trustee From The Toolroom is a real gem. It's a wonderful story. Here's some notes from a reviewer, the writer put it better than I can:

This is a thoroughly satisfying and utterly charming story. It is charming because the characters are such good people; the kind you'd feel privileged to have as friends. But they are also realistic; the author's career was immersed in the engineering and entrepreneurial milieu, and understands these folks in detail. This is a world, devoid of much of what we consider to be modern, you'll find yourself admiring; it is a joy to visit it. The last two paragraphs will make you shiver.

It's easy to read and a great story. You learn a lot about what life was like in post-WW2 England, and there's also a lot of proof of work in the book.

Nevil Shute has a lot of other wonderful books and I've read all of them. This one is an outstanding start.