Burmese Days
Burmese Days by George Orwell, published by Penguin Books in 1989, is a novel that explores the complexities of colonial rule in Burma during the days of the British Empire. This edition spans 299 pages and is presented in English. The narrative follows Flory, a white timber merchant, as he navigates the intricacies of imperialism, indigenous corruption, and personal relationships against a backdrop of societal prejudice.
Readers will find a detailed depiction of the tensions between the colonizers and the colonized, particularly through Flory’s friendship with Dr. Veraswami, who seeks European support to counter the machinations of U Po Kyin, a local magistrate. The arrival of Elizabeth Lackersteen from Paris introduces themes of romance and the desire for escape from the constraints of colonial life. Through its exploration of literature and world perspectives, this work provides insight into the dynamics of power and identity within a colonial context.
Official synopsis Publisher
Set in the days of the Empire, with the British ruling in Burma, Burmese Days describes both indigenous corruption and Imperial bigotry, when ‘after all, natives were natives – interesting, no doubt, but finally only a “subject” people, an inferior people with black faces’. Against the prevailing orthodoxy, Flory, a white timber merchant, befriends Dr Veraswami, a black enthusiast for Empire. The doctor needs help. U Po Kyin, Sub- divisional Magistrate of Kyauktada, is plotting his downfall. The only thing that can save him is European patronage: membership of the hitherto all-white Club. While Flory prevaricates, beautiful Elizabeth Lackersteen arrives in Upper Burma from Paris. At last, after years of ‘solitary hell’, romance and marriage appear to offer Flory an escape from the ‘lie’ of the ‘pukka sahib pose’.
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