Emma Larkin

Emma Larkin first went to Burma in 1995 in search of George Orwell. Not just a literary detective, Larkin writes about totalitarianism in Burma with an insight appropriate to an Orwell scholar. The analogy of three of Orwell's novels with the history of Burma is uncannily prophetic: Burmese Days tells of the country under British rule; in Animal Farm the pigs take over the running of the farm just as the military took over the running of Burma; and 1984 describes the current tyrannical show more regime. Although Larkin writes extensively about Burma and its people, she does not lose focus of the main topic, that of Orwell in Burma. The result is excellent.

For anyone interested in Orwell and his life this is essential reading. That it is fascinating and well-written is a bonus. Larkin accepts no credit for the bravery required in such an undertaking, but reflects all respect and admiration on the gentle Burmese people.

Like Larkin, I will reject the name Myanmar, a name made up by the current military oppressors. show less

I ended up with an unexpected slot of free time yesterday and so I decided to use it to finish the thoughtful and graceful Emma Larkin on Finding George Orwell in Burma. Probably the most significant effect Larkin's book will have on me is dropping forever the name Myanmar from my vocabulary. I NEVER liked it, always thought it sounded utterly stupid and lo and behold the military junta that rules the country made it up. One could debate forever whether a harsh and repressive monarchy or the show more British Empire is worse, but the fact seems to be that Burma is one of those countries that is flypaper to authoritarian rule. And it is beautiful, hauntingly so. I remember that from reading Orwell's Burmese Days' during an Orwell phase (time well spent) and I know, but can't think of the titles, that I've read one or two other memoirs of Burma in the colonial period. Larkin follows the path of Orwell's five years in Burma, visiting in turn each of the five places he was stationed, as a policeman, for the five years that he served. She seeks out what remains of clubs, houses, churches -- amazingly finds the occasional person who might have been old enough to catch a glimpse of Eric Blair himself, or whose family has stories about him. What makes the book remarkable is a calm that suffuses it, Larkin is at ease with the Burmese and herself and has, as far as I can tell, a deep affection and understanding and sympathy for Orwell then and the plight of the Burmese people now. She slips back and forth from past to present smoothly without sentiment -- a remarkable feat. One thing that emerges is that the Burmese (there are other ethnic groups in abundance, but I will limit myself to one name) have a great capacity for small joys from tea time to a good discussion which is what is saving them from being crushed. I hope the seer that Larkin spoke of who predicts the end of the military regime in the not-too-distant future is right! Highly recommended if Orwell or the Far East is an area of interest. ****1/2 show less

A moving account of the very sad state of affairs in this strange land. It chronicles, often in very wrenching detail, the acute suffering of the people especially in the aftermath of the devastatic cyclone Nargis made even worse by the absolutely callous and insensitive military junta.

A section is devoted to the contemporary state of affairs of it's ruling elite led by the crackpot geriatric military dictator Than Shwe. The current state of affairs in this country seems to mirror the one show more that existed in France just before the revolution. The Aristocracy which is the military regime living in unheard of opulence and the hapless citizens who have been reduced to a state worse than those of serfs and the rulers seem to be telling them to eat cake as there is not enough bread to go around. show less

Larkin traveled throughout Burma, visiting the places where George Orwell was stationed while serving as am imperial police officer. With these places as a background, she examines the then current situation in Burma, sprinkling in quotes from Nineteen Eighty-Four where appropriate. Animal Farm and Burmese Days also serve as backdrops to Larkin’s visit.

What brought Orwell's works, the authoritarian government and Larkin's visit together was an encounter with an elderly man. Larkin asks if show more he knows of George Orwell and his works. After some confusion, no doubt do to language barriers, the man replies, "You mean the prophet." show less