We like George Orwell's works in Au fil des pages on Radio libertaire. A
talent for writing, a sense of description and sometimes a touch of
humor. Les belles lettres editions are republishing A Burmese Story.
---- A Burmese Story is a novel published in 1934, set in Burma during
the English colonial era. It tells the story of John Flory, an
Englishman who has been living in Burma for over ten years. ---- This
book is directly inspired by George Orwell's experience as a former
British civil servant in Burma. ---- The events take place in a Burmese
village called Kyautkada, described as a "fairly typical northern
Burmese village, which had not changed much between the time of Marco
Polo and 1910". The central character, John Flory, is about 35 years old
and has been living in this village for over ten years as a timber
merchant. Disillusioned by his monotonous life in Burma. He frequents a
club that is only open to the few Europeans in the village. He
unknowingly finds himself involved in a plot organized by U Po Kyin, a
Burmese colonial administrator who seeks to be admitted to the club by
organizing a fake popular revolt and crushing it.
Racism and violence
George Orwell wrote A History of Burma in keeping with his desire to
take sides, not only against what he considered intolerable but also
against the British Empire for which he worked. Orwell assigns a
worldview to each of his characters, in such a way as to create a
dialogue between these worldviews and to denounce the oppressive
colonial system. These characters are admirably drawn. The violent
racist white man, displaying his contempt for the inhabitants. The more
than crooked Burmese collaborators. The remarks within the Club leave no
illusions and lulled by the scent of alcohol (gin and whisky) consumed
in tropical heat, the whites know well that they will have to leave this
country one day. They are bored, go round in circles, always mumble the
same insignificant remarks as if to give themselves a reason to exist.
The criticism of the colonial administration is formidable. "It is not
particularly essential that a British civil servant in India carry out
his task competently."
I quote again:
"- What a lie, my dear friend?
- But come on, the one that consists of pretending that we are here for
the greater good of our poor colored brothers when we are here to
plunder them, period."
A very strong denunciation of colonialism that finds an echo in the
texts of Albert Londres and André Gide. And above all an analysis that
is not limited to the behavior of the English but of all the colonizers.
Thanks to the ease and flexibility of the novelistic figure, Orwell
conveys a message about colonial life.
* George Orwell
A Burmese Story
Ed. Les belles lettres, 2024
https://monde-libertaire.fr/?articlen=7966
_________________________________________
A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C E
By, For, and About Anarchists
Send news reports to A-infos-en mailing list
A-infos-en@ainfos.ca
talent for writing, a sense of description and sometimes a touch of
humor. Les belles lettres editions are republishing A Burmese Story.
---- A Burmese Story is a novel published in 1934, set in Burma during
the English colonial era. It tells the story of John Flory, an
Englishman who has been living in Burma for over ten years. ---- This
book is directly inspired by George Orwell's experience as a former
British civil servant in Burma. ---- The events take place in a Burmese
village called Kyautkada, described as a "fairly typical northern
Burmese village, which had not changed much between the time of Marco
Polo and 1910". The central character, John Flory, is about 35 years old
and has been living in this village for over ten years as a timber
merchant. Disillusioned by his monotonous life in Burma. He frequents a
club that is only open to the few Europeans in the village. He
unknowingly finds himself involved in a plot organized by U Po Kyin, a
Burmese colonial administrator who seeks to be admitted to the club by
organizing a fake popular revolt and crushing it.
Racism and violence
George Orwell wrote A History of Burma in keeping with his desire to
take sides, not only against what he considered intolerable but also
against the British Empire for which he worked. Orwell assigns a
worldview to each of his characters, in such a way as to create a
dialogue between these worldviews and to denounce the oppressive
colonial system. These characters are admirably drawn. The violent
racist white man, displaying his contempt for the inhabitants. The more
than crooked Burmese collaborators. The remarks within the Club leave no
illusions and lulled by the scent of alcohol (gin and whisky) consumed
in tropical heat, the whites know well that they will have to leave this
country one day. They are bored, go round in circles, always mumble the
same insignificant remarks as if to give themselves a reason to exist.
The criticism of the colonial administration is formidable. "It is not
particularly essential that a British civil servant in India carry out
his task competently."
I quote again:
"- What a lie, my dear friend?
- But come on, the one that consists of pretending that we are here for
the greater good of our poor colored brothers when we are here to
plunder them, period."
A very strong denunciation of colonialism that finds an echo in the
texts of Albert Londres and André Gide. And above all an analysis that
is not limited to the behavior of the English but of all the colonizers.
Thanks to the ease and flexibility of the novelistic figure, Orwell
conveys a message about colonial life.
* George Orwell
A Burmese Story
Ed. Les belles lettres, 2024
https://monde-libertaire.fr/?articlen=7966
_________________________________________
A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C E
By, For, and About Anarchists
Send news reports to A-infos-en mailing list
A-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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