Rating: 
Summary: Summers in Rangoon
Review: Orwell's "Burma Days" is a masterpiece. I ought stop right here and just do nothing more than insist in my most persuasive tones that you should read it. But that wouldn't be much of a review, so I will say that Orwell wrote a novel that showcases exquisitely-drawn characters against Colonial Burma and the English Raj in the most masterful way possible. The descriptions of the British and Burmese characters (especially the unsavory ones,) the sweltering heat, the sodden texture of everything rotting in the jungle humidity, and the awful, filthy Burmese food are astonishingly to the point. After a few paragraphs, you can almost feel the brazen sun roasting your own head.James Flory, the protagonist, is described as ugly, deformed, badly brought up, cheaply educated, and yet, we sympathize with him, as Orwell means us to do. Flory is obviously an alter-ego of Orwell, who also served in Burma. The plot, where a nasty local Burmese magistrate connives to discredit a social climber of an Indian doctor, is a simple enough device to manipulate each character along the fatalistic road to Hell. The theme of a man past his youth, who drinks and thinks too much, who falls in love with a simple, thoughtless pretty woman is very like Winston Smith in 1984 and his fatal attraction to Julia. Here, Flory falls smack in love with Elizabeth, who is a bob-haired adolescent who cringes at the word "Art." Orwell satirizes the British bullies and exiled failures who run the colonies and love the natives for being powerless and meek. Orwell's eye for cruelty is sharp, his wit is biting, and his writing skill is at its best in this novel. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Description of life under the British Raj
Review: Orwell's description of his life in Burma during the British Raj. Those days are in stark contrast from today to yesterday when the British banned Indians from their drinking clubs and referred to them using a racial slur. Still that did not stop George Orwell from attaching himself to a Burmese mistress. Later he tries to dump her in favor of a fair English lass.
Rating:
Summary: Treachery and stale culture in the Far East
Review: Say the name George Orwell and what do you think of? Either Animal Farm or 1984, or more likely both. These two are his most (and only) famous works, but also they are his last two. It turns out he wrote six, and the first is Burmese Days, a close look at what Orwell clearly saw as the sick British culture in colonial Burma. He was, as it happens, well qualified to make this assertion, having served in Burma himself as a young man. How much the novel duplicates his experience probably depends more on how trustworthy you see Orwell than on anything else, because he wears his opinions on his sleeve throughout the writing.
This, more than any other feature, sets Burmese Days lower on the quality scale than it otherwise might be. It reads like someone's first novel. If not for the success of the above mentioned books, Burmese Days would probably exist, if at all, in total obscurity. This is partially justified. By many standards, it's just not that good a book. Orwell falls into the trap of letting the invisible narrator make social commentary - lots of social commentary. And that doesn't work. It didn't work for Tolstoy's last novel, and it doesn't work for Orwell's first. And lest there be any confusion on his opinions, Orwell keeps most of the characters flat and uninspiring. Most of them are just there to present the image of colonial racism, venality, small mindedness, and snobbery needed to make the point.
The only two exceptions among the British cast are the main character, John Flory, and the young British woman, new to town, Elizabeth. Flory is a timer merchant who presumably carries Orwell's opinions. He is genuinely unhappy with the colonial racism inherent in the system, but lacks the spine to speak out. He means well, but recognizes that without his compatriots, his position in society is nothing. One can be easily cast out of polite society in their world and he doesn't have the will to fight it. Even when political infighting threatens his good Indian friend, Dr. Veraswami, he tries but continually fails to do the right thing. He is a man adrift.
Things could continue along those lines but for the introduction of Elizabeth. Our first glimpse of her is as a fairly level headed and interesting person who is obviously meant to become Flory's love interest. And indeed she does. But rather than fit her into an obvious stereotype, Orwell gives her a bit of variation. She turns out to be unintellectual and anti-artistic. But unlike most of the society women she can at least be interesting if Flory would only stop trying to get her interested in the native culture. About such things she shows no interest.
The other main storyline is about manipulations among the Burmese and other non-British residents. It is here that I start to question the whole premise of Burmese Days, or at least what I've read about it. Orwell attacks the racism of colonialism - fine - but why does he then portray the natives as different but in no way better than the British? This is really a very significant point. In no sense could anyone claim Orwell was attacking his country by artificially building up another. And that is a refreshing change, and we start to see even this far back the strict intellectual honesty that Orwell is noted for. There is a not large but sizeable cast of native characters. The first we meet is U Po Kyin, a thoroughly reprehensible man who schemes and plots his way to the top of native administration. He has no scruples whatsoever and he knows it. His plan for soul salvation is to spend his retirement years building pagodas until he's wiped clean his sins. But the unpleasant characters don't stop there. Flory's mistress is a gold-digging harlot. Most of the minor servant characters are either lazy or fawning or both. The closest we get to decent is the above-mentioned Dr. Veraswami. But he is so slavishly anglophilish and such a self-hating Indian that it would be embarrassing to listen to him if we met him in real life. So again, what was Orwell's point? When I read Animal Far a few months ago, I noted that what I read in the book is not quite what's been said about the book. Though few people say much about Burmese Days, I still found it to be more subtle on some points than the editorials would make one think, and this despite the heavy handed tone and commentary. Orwell is not so much saying that colonialism is bad for what it does to the natives, though that aspect is there, but for what it does to the ruling class. Bravo to Orwell for making more than a one-dimension point. So despite the problems, it's still an interesting tale of scheming and frustrations. Just don't expect anything Earth shaking.
Rating:
Summary: excellent and still relevant.
Review: this book follows mr. flory, a man of contradictions living and working in burma. the story really is that of love, imperialism, race and blackmail. the ending is one of the best i have read, just when you think it's going to go all sloppy we come across the most depressing and brilliant endings imaginable. among the most hated characters in the book we find mr. ellis, u po kyim and elizabeth who is mr. florys love interest. elizabeth arrives in burma to live with her aunt and uncle as her mother has recently died and she is penniless. her uncle repeatedly tries to rape her and her aunt simply wishes to marry her off. elizabeth is again a mass of contradictions but is wicked, rascist and vile. she is simply unlikeable. this book is interesting, extremely well written and highly relevant still. read and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: incredible
Review: this is a really great book, historically accurate and faithful. the plot moves quickly and it's an incredibly good read. I liked a lot better than 1984 and Animal Farm, though in of himself George Orwell is just an excellent writer.
Rating:
Summary: A Strong Novel Still Relevant Today
Review: This novel explores the difficult racial issues surrounding colonialized Burma from a perspective that was obviously intensely personal for Orwell. What's interesting is the way in which these issues relate to our culture today. The debate over Affirmative Action bears a strong resemblance to the disagreements of the white colonials with the officials. Flory whose devotion to cultural difference is touching, if somewhat simplistic, and brings this story alive. Orwell is always good at cutting to the heart of the matter realising that our most intense difficulties over racial and social difference are basedon simplistic attitudes. He represents this well in the case of Elizabeth whose interest in cultural difference is based more in a stereotype than the actual culture. The romance is an interesting exploration of Orwell's tentative attitude toward women, but is also essentially a debate over whether to side with the one's culture of origin or maintain a respect for the culture upon which you haveviolently intruded. Flory's inadequicy is a strong symbol of guilt over the imperialist regime he is forced to enforce and actively practice but can never fully accept. The novel will never strike you as being directly political, but more about the difficulty of accepting one'sown individual idea of identity within the influence of social propaganda. It explores more fully all of the issues Orwell condensed in his essay Shooting an Elephant'.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant but devastating look at English-Colonial Burma.
Review: This novel, though not as well known as Orwell's famous "1984," is political criticism at its best. Drawing heavily on his own experiences in colonial Burma in the early decades of the 20th century, Orwell has painted us an eye-opening and painful portrait of that world. The protagonist is an Englishman named James Flory, living in the small town of Kyauktada. He is different from his fellow English colonials, outcast because of his sympathy for the Burmese and friendship with the local native Dr. Veraswami, and constantly ashamed and self-conscious because of an unsightly birthmark across his face.
Flory is a rather pathetic creature, lacking the courage to stand up for what he believes in and to defend his friend Veraswami from the corrupt local politician who wishes to ruin him. He also falls for a pretty young woman, Elizabeth Lackersteen, probably because she is the only Englishwoman of marriageable age anywhere in the vicinity. She is, in reality, just as shallow and empty-headed as the rest of the English colonials, though Flory fails to see this. And yet despite all this we still sympathize with Flory, because he is the only one who recognizes and expresses disgust at the injustices being done by the English toward the Burmese.
This is a depressing book, no doubt about it. Flory lacks the strength necessary to avert disaster, and disaster is what occurs. Yet "Burmese Days" is a brilliant novel that is well-worth the read, and indeed should by read by everyone. There are few, if any, truly likeable characters in the book, but each serves an important role in delivering Orwell's messages about colonialism, racism, society, and the role of women. Nothing is spared in this biting, cynical, astute look at human nature. The ending is the ultimate irony, and packs the final, depressing punch.
George Orwell is among the best of English writers in terms of creating atmosphere and a sense of realism, and "Burmese Days" is a prime example. The descriptions are so vivid that the Burmese jungles simply rise up off the pages, steaming and sweltering, to greet you. You can almost feel the deadening heat and humidity, the mugginess, the stickiness, and it brings the misery of the characters to life. Orwell's language flows smoothly and achieves its aim to utmost perfection. This particular edition (1974 Harvest Books printing) has a few distracting typos, but not so many that I'd knock down my rating of the book overall. Definitely a must-read.
Rating:
Summary: a worthwhile read
Review: This was a well-written novel w/ a fairly fast-paced plot. My only gripes: Elizabeth Lackersteen was an annoying twit so I don't understand why Flory & MacGregor were so interested in her. Also, Flory's cowardice was exasperating at times. I wanted to slap him & tell him to get himself together. But overall, a good read though not as interesting as say, Passage to India or Jewel in the Crown.
Rating:
Summary: the hypocrosy of colonialism displayed
Review: This well plotted tale of betrayal and hypocrosy in an English colonial outpost is an extraordinarily good read on several levels. The character of Flory who despises the racist hypocrosy of his fellow expats yet is too weak to do anything about it is very well written. Flory is full of contradictions and ultimately these contribute to his tragic downfall. The English "club members" drink and spout racist nonsense while essentially wasting away in a country they really don't understand. A young military officer appears briefly and causes quite a stir since he is judged "worthy" based on title and appearance though in reality he is a lout. The plot builds slowly and Orwell weaves his views on colonialism and racism into the story with great skill. This is a great novel with a social conscience that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Rating:
Summary: Cinematic Chronicle of Sickness
Review: Unevenly written at times, but a great story of the decaying British empire: After some 15 years in hot and miserable Upper Burma, the wretched James Flory, 35, a man whose inner rot is as obvious as the great, ugly birthmark on his pasty cheek, convinces himself that a vapid young English girl carries his hope of redemption. Flory is sick about the state of the empire, sick about the way his fellow Club members slag the natives and Flory's Indian friend Dr. Veraswami, sick about his Burmese concubine, and just generally, fundamentally sick. Elizabeth, a club member's niece, is pretty and modern, but he never quite figures out that she's as twisted, racist, and proud as his hated colleagues, and meanwhile he stumbles in the way of the plans of the fabulously corpulent and corrupt U Po Kyin, a Burmese bureaucrat of ruthless ambition. Needless to say, it all ends quite badly. Narratively, the book is most remarkable for its cinematic style, especially considering when it was written.
|
