Burmese Days: A NovelHonest 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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arms Ba Sein Ba Taik bazaar beaters birthmark bloody Burmans Burmese butler chair chokra Club damned dear doctor dreadful drink Elizabeth Ellis English Europeans eyes face Flory Flory and Elizabeth Flory's fool girl hair hand happened head hear heard honour Indian jungle Kin Kin knew Ko S'la Kyauktada Kyin Kyin's Lackersteen leopard live longyi looked Ma Hla Macgregor maidan Mandalay marry matter Maxwell morning native never nigger night pagodas Pike-san Po Kyin police ponies pukka sahib punkah rain Rangoon rebellion road round rupees S'la sampan sepoys servants shooting shoulder sitting skin stood sweat talk tell thakin thing thought took trees turned veranda Veraswami Verrall Verrall's village voice walked watched Westfield whisky woman women yards yellow young وو