Everyone is brutally human in this book, making it a disturbing read. Flory, himself the closest character to Orwell, may not be as racist as his contemporaries but he’s a terrible coward, cruel and a hypocrite. There’s an awful chapter about a shooting expedition. I wouldn’t say that I liked the book, although I did enjoy the detailed descriptions of the climate, plants, the native way of life, etc. Burma did not become independent until 1948, so at the time of publication I’m sure the book would have scandalised many supporters of the British Empire. His vices threaten to catch up with him and meanwhile, there are rumours of a rebellion.įor a debut, it’s an astonishing novel, particularly because of its viewpoint. Different from the other ‘pukka sahibs’, Flory is very lonely and the arrival of a young woman at the post, Elizabeth, seems to offer him hope. At the same time, the corrupt and fiendishly clever magistrate, U Po Kyin, is plotting against the doctor to increase his own power, and if Flory isn’t careful he’ll get in the way. The trouble begins when Flory, a timber merchant, wants to elect his friend Dr Veraswami to the exclusive Club. The setting is Kyauktada, home to a handful of white Europeans who rule over the Burmans, Indians and Chinese. It’s based on his experiences as an imperial policeman in 1920s Burma and is a hard-hitting critique of British colonialism, with a cast of horrible characters whose worst traits are magnified in the sweltering small-town atmosphere. Kyauktada is a small town with a population of four thousand, including perhaps two hundred fifty Indians, sixty Chinese, seven Europeans.Orwell’s first novel is quite a tough read, not for the writing style but for the content.
Flory works as the local representative of an English timbering company. Flory is exceptionally self-conscious about the birthmark and always stands with it away from whomever he is addressing, and often simply covers it with his hand. His most distinguishing feature, however, is a grotesque and large birthmark which covers most of the left half of his face, running in a large crescent from his eye to his chin. He wears a moustache and has sallow, nearly yellow, skin. Porley", is about thirty-five years old, of middle height, and has black, stiff hair. Flory, addressed in the native patois as "Mr. Flory arises early and visits the Kyauktada European Club, a dingy four-room affair. Remembering that it is "English Mail Day", Mr.
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