Quotes from book
Burmese Days

Burmese Days

Burmese Days is a novel by English writer George Orwell. It was first published in the New York in 1934. It is a tale from the waning days of British colonialism, when Burma was ruled from Delhi as a part of British India – "a portrait of the dark side of the British Raj." At its centre is John Flory, "the lone and lacking individual trapped within a bigger system that is undermining the better side of human nature." Orwell's first novel, it describes "corruption and imperial bigotry" in a society where, "after all, natives were natives—interesting, no doubt, but finally...an inferior people".Because of concerns that the novel might be potentially libellous, that Katha was described too realistically, and that some of the characters might be based on real people, it was first published "further afield", in the United States. A British edition, with altered names, appeared a year later. When it was published in the 1930s, Orwell's harsh portrayal of colonial society was felt by "some old Burma hands" to have "rather let the side down". In a letter from 1946, Orwell said "I dare say it's unfair in some ways and inaccurate in some details, but much of it is simply reporting what I have seen".


George Orwell photo

“Ellis was one of those people who constantly nag others to echo their own opinions.”

Source: Burmese Days (1934), Ch. II

George Orwell photo

“Beauty is meaningless until it is shared.”

Source: Burmese Days (1934), Ch. IV

George Orwell photo
George Orwell photo
George Orwell photo
George Orwell photo
George Orwell photo
George Orwell photo

“An earthquake is such fun when it is over.”

Source: Burmese Days (1934), Ch. XV

Similar authors

George Orwell photo
George Orwell 473
English author and journalist 1903–1950
Terry Pratchett photo
Terry Pratchett 796
English author
Hunter S. Thompson photo
Hunter S. Thompson 268
American journalist and author
Mario Benedetti photo
Mario Benedetti 4
Uruguayan journalist, novelist, and poet
Ernest Hemingway photo
Ernest Hemingway 501
American author and journalist
P.G. Wodehouse photo
P.G. Wodehouse 302
English author
Christian Morgenstern photo
Christian Morgenstern 21
German author
Jack London photo
Jack London 77
American author, journalist, and social activist
Helen Rowland photo
Helen Rowland 13
American journalist
H.L. Mencken photo
H.L. Mencken 281
American journalist and writer