I picked out Burmese Days to read for Brona’s Reading Orwell event. It may be the only Orwell I read, though, unless one comes up in one of the biannual year reads hosted by Stuck in a Book.
There is nothing politically correct about Burmese Days, published in 1934 and probably set 10 years or so earlier. So, if bigotry bothers you, best stay away. Also, a warning for animal lovers—this book contains the murder of a dog.
John Flory is stationed in North Burma working for a timber concern. He hates most of the English people who live in Burma and spend their nights drinking and complaining about the natives. He wants to talk about books and more intellectual concerns, so his only friend is Dr. Veraswami, an educated Indian. However, when the subject of admitting an Asian to the European Club comes up, Flory doesn’t have the gumption to support the doctor’s admission.
He learns later that this admission is more important than he thinks, because Dr. Veraswami has offended U Po Kyin, a corrupt magistrate who is determined to ruin him. Membership in the club would make the doctor impregnable.
Flory doesn’t want to leave Burma, which he loves, but he is desperately lonely. He decides the only option is to find a woman who loves Burma too and is interested in intellectual discussion.
On the scene comes Elizabeth Lackersteen, a young woman who has been left penniless and has come to Burma to find a husband. Because she came from Paris, Flory immediately imagines her hanging out with artists and thinks he’s met his soulmate. He doesn’t even notice how she hates being among the Burmese and is exactly the type of woman he dislikes.
After Flory take Elizabeth on a hunting expedition, she seems inclined toward him, especially as her uncle has been approaching her inappropriately. But then the dashing Lieutenant Verrall appears, and Mrs. Lackersteen discovers he is an Honourable. In the meantime, U Po Kyin has expanded his efforts to disgrace the doctor to include his friend Flory.
This is a bitter satire against the British Raj with few likable characters and a dark ending. I’m sure it is meticulously observed, even though many of its characters seem like caricatures.
whatmeread 
Oh it all sounds a bit bleak and ‘of it’s time.’
I’ll link your review to my post when I get a chance to spend some time on a laptop again. I could probably work out how to do it on my phone with jetpak, but in the middle of Tasmania atm and the wifi is patchy.
Thank for contributing to #readingorwell24 Kay.
You’re welcome. I hope you’re feeling better.
Thank you for the review. As Brona says, probably a little bit out of time. However, that can be interesting to read as well. To be reminded how narrow minded people were in another time. Although I am afraid there are still people like that today. I might not read this one as my first Orwell book.
Yes, and Orwell means his characters to be unpleasant.
Sounds pretty unpleasant, and the murder of the dog puts me right off! I have Keep the Aspidistra Flying on my CC list, so I’ll see how I get on with that before deciding whether to give this one a try.
I tried to find that one at the library. They didn’t have it!
I don’t think he’s very popular these days, except for 1984.
And maybe Animal Farm. Those were the two we read in high school.