Burmese Days

• "We walk about under a load of memories which we long to share and somehow never can."

John Flory, a white timber merchant in 1920s Burma, has unorthodox views.

To him, the Burmese culture and people should be appreciated as things of beauty and worth. However, to the other white members of the European club of which he is a member, these views are considered dangerous, as they undermine the foundation of British colonial rule.

Flory is drawn into a deadly rivalry when he befriends Veraswami, an Indian doctor who is under the scrutiny of a corrupt magistrate.

Key Themes:

• Flory defies the convention of imperial bigotry in Burma by offering to help his new friend.
• The consequences of his actions are explosive, affecting both himself and Elizabeth Lackersteen, the woman he loves.

Based on George Orwell’s experiences as a policeman in Burma, Burmese Days was his first novel. It sparked controversy for its scathing portrayal of colonial society.