Burmese DaysBurmese Days
Score Classic
What it's about
Drawing on his years as a policeman in Burma, George Orwell's first novel portrays corruption and bigotry under British colonial rule. Timber merchant Flory befriends the Indian doctor Veraswami, defying the all-white Club, as a corrupt magistrate plots the doctor's downfall.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's a devastating portrait of empire from the inside.
You'll love it if you liked
A Passage to India
1984
Homage to CataloniaGood to know
It contains the racist language of its colonial setting.
By the numbers
- Readers54 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller15 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #226 of the 325 literary novels we rank
- #598 of the 924 classics we rank
- #1896 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking
More by George Orwell
1984
Animal FarmHomage to Catalonia
The Road to Wigan PierIf you like this, read next
East of Eden
War and Peace
The Idiot
The Master and Margarita
Beloved
AugustusExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Burmese Days worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #1,896 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 65.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Burmese Days about?
Drawing on his years as a policeman in Burma, George Orwell's first novel portrays corruption and bigotry under British colonial rule. Timber merchant Flory befriends the Indian doctor Veraswami, defying the all-white Club, as a corrupt magistrate plots the doctor's downfall.
How long does it take to read Burmese Days?
About 9 hours (352 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Burmese Days?
If you liked it, try A Passage to India by E.M. Forster, 1984 by George Orwell or Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell.