Burmese DaysHonest and evocative, George Orwell’s first novel is an examination of the debasing effect of empire on occupied and occupier. Burmese Days focuses on a handful of Englishmen who meet at the European Club to drink whisky and to alleviate the acute and unspoken loneliness of life in 1920s Burma—where Orwell himself served as an imperial policeman—during the waning days of British imperialism. One of the men, James Flory, a timber merchant, has grown soft, clearly comprehending the futility of England’s rule. However, he lacks the fortitude to stand up for his Indian friend, Dr. Veraswami, for admittance into the whites-only club. Without membership and the accompanying prestige that would protect the doctor, the condemning and ill-founded attack by a bitter magistrate might bring an end to everything he has accomplished. Complicating matters, Flory falls unexpectedly in love with a newly arrived English girl, Elizabeth Lackersteen. Can he find the strength to do right not only by his friend, but also by his conscience? |
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User Review - charlie68 - LibraryThingThree early novels of Orwell before he became a household word with Animal Farm and 1984, all or deftly plotted and worth reading, can see hints of the future works in these stories, including his ... Read full review
BURMESE DAYS
User Review - KirkusOrwell can write — he proved it in Down and Out in Paris and London. He has an all-seeing eye, and is not fooled by glamorous whitewashing. And in Burmese Days he has written a malodorous, realistic ... Read full review
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already arms began believe bloody body brought Burmans Burmese butler called chair Club coming course dear doctor dreadful drink Elizabeth Ellis English Europeans eyes face feeling feet Flory Flory's four girl give gone hair half hand happened head hear heard Indian It's jungle keep kind knew Kyauktada Kyin Lackersteen leave letter live looked Macgregor marry matter mean mind morning native never night notice official once perhaps Po Kyin police poor rain road round S’la seemed servants shooting short shoulder side sitting sound speak standing steps stood stopped talk tell thing thought took trees turned veranda Verrall village voice walked watched week Westfield whole woman women yards yellow young
Bibliographic information
| Title | Burmese Days Harbrace paperbound library |
| Author | George Orwell |
| Edition | unabridged |
| Publisher | HarperCollins, 1974 |
| ISBN | 0547564031, 9780547564036 |
| Length | 288 pages |
| Subjects | › › › Fiction / Alternative History Fiction / Historical / General Fiction / Literary Fiction / World Literature / Ireland / 20th Century |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |