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Burmese Days by George Orwell
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Burmese Days (original 1934; edition 1967)

by George Orwell

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3,697763,367 (3.78)1 / 228
Orwell draws on his years of experience in India to tell this story of the waning days of British imperialism. A handful of Englishmen living in a settlement in Burma congregate in the European Club, drink whiskey, and argue over an impending order to admit a token Asian.
Member:mumoftheanimals
Title:Burmese Days
Authors:George Orwell
Info:Penguin Books Ltd (1967), Edition: New impression, Paperback, 272 pages
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Burmese Days by George Orwell (1934)

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» See also 228 mentions

English (70)  Dutch (3)  Spanish (1)  Italian (1)  Swedish (1)  All languages (76)
Showing 1-5 of 70 (next | show all)
This was Orwell's first novel and I'm very glad he improved. This wasn't a "bad" work, but not as well written or as satisfying as 1984, Animal Farm, or Keep the Aspidistra Flying. There was no subtly in this book, nothing graceful, nothing to ponder and chew on. It seemed as if everything was large, loud, and in your face. The characters were either reprehensible, idiotic, or pathetic. The story takes place in Burma during the British Empire. It was the story of racism and corruption. I listened to this on audio (10 hrs 17 mins=269 pages) ( )
  Tess_W | Jun 15, 2023 |
A way of viewing how the Raj worked on peoples lives and relationships - whilst fiction it is based on the first hand experiences of the author which gives the narrative the feel of authenticity. The overall feeling is one of melancholy - perhaps the intended emotion to be felt regarding life in that outpost of the Raj at that time? ( )
  Daniel_M_Oz | Mar 9, 2023 |
Horrifying and fascinating at the same time. ( )
  burritapal | Oct 23, 2022 |
Orwell's first novel about British imperialism in Burma (Myanmar) is somewhat different from his two better well known novel in that this was a more personal report. You can see the journalist side of Orwell and shows his distaste for the racism where such words as "n*****" was used by more supremacist colonialist. The novel makes you question whether Burma's harsh political climate actually changed or not knowing about Aung San Suu Kyi or the military occupation. Also, some people have stated that Orwell was the main character, Flory, however two thing don't match up: one; Orewll, unlike Flory, was part of the Imperial Police in Burma and two; the fate of the main character is very different from Orwell's. ( )
  Jazz1987 | Aug 27, 2022 |
Somewhat dark piece that covers the British administration of Burma in the early 1900's, and explores the clash of cultures and perils of living in a completely different foreign land, and the political corruption, bigotry, racism and loneliness that creeps in and begins to dominate the lives of all. This very small enclave of English officials and businessmen, in particular, John Flory, struggle to survive and thrive in a very small town in the north of this very tropical nation. Their Club is their refuge from the reality of this extreme environment they find themselves in, and they handle their challenges differently. Flory begins to assimilate and accept and appreciate the charm of this different world and in doing so, stirs up the ire of those less willing. Enter the young English blonde niece forced to move in with her aunt and uncle, and the unraveling accelerates. Initially, i was lost as to where we even were due to the constant barrage of terms such as 'Indians,' coolies, Orientals, Burmese, etc. I thought this was taking place in India.....but i finally looked up some history of the area and realized that the English were administering Burma as they were India. The clarity helped immensely. Thus, I learned a bit of history i was unaware of, but the characters were hard to like, the climate seemed completely oppressive...and i was just reading about it. Interesting, a wee bit slow here and there, but a surprising ending. 3 stars is the best i can do. ( )
  jeffome | Aug 4, 2022 |
Showing 1-5 of 70 (next | show all)
Overall, Burmese Days is a thoroughly impressive piece of work which is a suspenseful, tragic and at times beautiful depiction of upper Burma. It marks a great contribution towards an artistic reflection of the issue of race (and more subtly in the text, gender) as well as providing insight into the corruption and immorality behind Anglo- Indian imperialism.
An undeniable masterpiece.
added by John_Vaughan | editInspired Quill, Tom Cobb (Jul 23, 2011)
 

» Add other authors (11 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Orwell, Georgeprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Kärki, JoniTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Larkin, EmmaIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Rees, RichardAfterwordsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Epigraph
This desert inaccessible under the shade of melancholy boughs.
~As You Like It
Dedication
First words
U Po Kyin, Subdivisional Magistrate of Kyauktada, in Upper Burma, was sitting in his veranda.
Quotations
For somehow, he had never been able to talk to her as he longed to talk. To talk, simply to talk! It sounds so little, and how much it is! When you have existed to the brink of middle age in bitter loneliness, among people to whom your true opinion on every subject on earth is blasphemy, the need to talk is the greatest of all needs. Yet with Elizabeth serious talk seemed impossible. It was as though there had been a spell upon them that made all their conversation lapse into banality: gramophone records, dogs, tennis racquets—all that desolating Club-chatter. She seemed not to want to talk of anything but that. He had only to touch upon a subject of any conceivable interest to hear the evasion, the 'I shan't play', coming into her voice. … Later, no doubt, she would understand him and give him the companionship he needed. Perhaps it was only that he had not won her confidence yet.
For a moment it seemed to him that an endless procession of Burmese women, a regiment of ghosts, were marching past him in the moonlight. Heavens, what numbers of them!A thousand- no, but a full hundred at least! "Eyes Right!" he thought despondently. Their faces turned towards him, but they had no faces, only featureless discs. He remembered a blue longyi here, a pair of ruby earrings there,but hardly a face or a name. The gods are just and of our pleasant vices (pleasant, indeed) make instruments to plague us. He had dirtied himself beyond redemption, and this was his just punishment.
He stood at the gate, watching them as they went. Elizabeth—lovely name, too rare nowadays. He hoped she spelt it with a 'z'. Ko S'la trotted after her at a queer and uncomfortable gait, reaching the umbrella over her head and keeping his body as far away from her as possible.
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Orwell draws on his years of experience in India to tell this story of the waning days of British imperialism. A handful of Englishmen living in a settlement in Burma congregate in the European Club, drink whiskey, and argue over an impending order to admit a token Asian.

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Penguin Australia

An edition of this book was published by Penguin Australia.

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