Burmese Days

By George Orwell

The last book I read by George Orwell was "Animal Farm" and I enjoyed it, both the content and the commentary on society, but I didn't recall feeling overwhelmed with the desire to read more Orwell.  However, a friend recommended, strongly, that I read "Burmese Days" saying it was one of Orwell's best, though underrated.  Actually, the recommender said it was one of the most underrated novels "period."  Valuing this person's taste in books, I dove in (after abandoning War and Peace out of boredom- that pains me as I love Tolstoy's shorter works and will review them soon).  It truly was a wonderful, even if depressing.  There is a perfection of writing in this novel.  I never found a word or sentence lacking.

Set in Burma during the time of the British Raj, one gets a clear impression of Orwell's distain for despotism, even when disguised as imperialism meant to "benefit" another nation.  It all ends up being a raping of the country taken over regardless of intention (which is stated as one thing, but of course IS another), and this is evident in the main character's opinions of this British invasion, that he happens to be a direct part of.  With nobody to share his bachelor life, Flory does his job, drinks away his life, keeps a Burmese woman, but is empty and disgusted by those life he lives and the people that surround him, except, perhaps, the Burmese themselves.  Viewed by all the other Brits as less-than-thou scum, the Burmese are of interest to read about and the characters painted richly.

Our bachelor is introduced to a visiting niece, Elizabeth, and Flory is ready to change his ways in order to share a life with her.  He shares his love of Burma- the people, the customs, the land, but the problem is that she isn't different than "the others" as he imagines she is.  His desperate loneliness causes him to see in her things that do not exist.  The plot that unfolds is heartbreaking on many levels, but it is a satisfying story.  Nobody escapes the cruelty of fate or humanity.  Perfectly written, almost awe-inspiring.