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Book Description
Three key novels from the 1930s by the author who later became world-famous for his political satires, Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four.
--This text refers to the
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Set in the days of the Empire, with the British ruling in Burma, Burmese Days describes both indigenous corruption and Imperial bigotry, when 'after all, natives were natives - interesting, no doubt, but finally only a "subject" people, an inferior people with black faces'. Against the prevailing orthodoxy, Flory, a white timber merchant, befriends Dr Veraswami, a black enthusiast for Empire. The doctor needs help. U Po Kyin, Sub- divisional Magistrate of Kyauktada, is plotting his downfall. The only thing that can save him is European patronage: membership of the hitherto all-white Club. While Flory prevaricates, beautiful Elizabeth Lackersteen arrives in Upper Burma from Paris. At last, after years of 'solitary hell', romance and marriage appear to offer Flory an escape from the 'lie' of the 'pukka sahib pose'.
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First Sentence
U Po Kyin, Sub-divisional Magistrate of Kyauktada, in Upper Burma, was sitting in his veranda. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
U Po Kyin, Sub-divisional Magistrate of Kyauktada, in Upper Burma, was sitting in his veranda. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A work of amazing power which deserves to rank up there with 1984 and Animal Farm. Orwell delivers a wonderful character study of Flory (the main character)and uses the novel to express his own absolute disgust at the way the British Empire was run. Some of the passages contain such wonderful insight into the human condition that they stay in the brain forever. If the ending does not leave you moved, you're made of stone.
40 of 42 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
That the imagery and language of 1984 have become so indelibly printed on the minds of modern society should be enough on its own to make people investigate Orwell's other novels. Sadly, this isn't the case so most people miss out on the joys of the greatest English writer of the 20th Century.
Burmese Days is Orwell's homage to the Raj, if you like; a caustic look at the miserable and meaningless existence of ex-pats in the dying days of the Empire. Like all Orwell's writing, it is informed by his own personal experiences. He also writes with a clarity and simplicity that means his images and meanings are never in doubt.
Ultimately, Burmese Days is a tragedy and there is scant little hope or jollity to be found anywhere in it, but this doesn't detract from a wholly engaging read. Like Homage to Catalonia, Orwell's great work about the Spanish Civil War, you are left understanding what life was like for the writer in his days in the service of the Crown. As with all Orwell's novels except, ironically, 1984, the author's humanist tendencies shine through, meaning you feel sympathy and empathy with everyone in the book; Orwell is not helping you to understand the processes of life, rather their impact, in the hope that you can do something about it.
Just so you know, the four Orwell novels everyone should read are 1984, Animal Farm, Coming up for Air and Burmese Days (in that order), and everyone should also read Homage to Catalonia and The Road to Wigan Pier as well. His essays are equally wonderful and the most startling thing about all his writing is how relevant its themes and observations still are 60 or 70 years on.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A work of power and depth which deserves to rank up there with Animal Farm and 1984. Orwell delivers such a wonderful character study of Flory that I cannot believe it is not based at least partly on himself. He writes passages which are so striking in their insight into the human condition that they stay in your brain forever. If the ending does not leave you moved, you're made of stone.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Burmese Days
A fantastic story built on a well illustrated setting, that you can tell Orwell experienced some what. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Elliott Walker
Indictment of the colonial system
This review is of the Penguin "Modern Classics" edition of Burmese Days, with the introduction by Emma Larkin. Read more
Published 3 months ago by oggy
Most Definitely a Modern Classic
A shame that Burmese Days is not as well known as Animal Farm and 1984, as it is an astonishing book. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Discerning Reader
So boring
This is a book for my wife as the book club monthly read. Quite short but very boring she tells me.
Published 10 months ago by Bob D
An unsentimental picture of a lost era....
Burmese Days paints a very grim picture of colonial life in the early 20th century. Orwell obviously dislikes his fellow British compatriots - they are shown to be lazy, corrupt,... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Wynne Kelly
Burmese Days
Burmese Days is an extremely readable novel dealing with life in the British Empire. As a former history student of this subject, I would argue that Orwell, writing from his own... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Mr. D. W. Kenrick
Depressing view of colonialism
Although I have read most of Orwell's other works I had never read Burmese Days. This was his first book, although published long after he returned from Burma, and probably... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Mrs. L. J. Mounsey
interesting insights into the British Raj
Only 30 or so pages into this book I was overwhelmed by the depiction of racism in the British Raj... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Allhug
must read classic
Had not heard of this one, but feel it should have been placed above Animal Farm.
Published 22 months ago by PJJ
Still modern, still relevant
A very good book that gives some insight in the life of the expats in the old British empire. Besides being an excellent read I found it most interesting to observe the characters... Read more
Published on 6 Feb 2010 by Timur Lenk
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