'Keep the Aspidistra Flying' by George Orwell is a novel that follows Gordon Comstock, a struggling poet who decides to reject the materialistic world and live in poverty, believing it will help him focus on his art. The story explores Gordon's internal struggles, his disdain for societal norms, and his relationships with friends and family as he navigates his self-imposed poverty. Orwell's writing style is praised for its descriptive language that vividly portrays the gritty reality of poverty in 1930s London, as well as his ability to provide social commentary on class, money, and the human psyche.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The novel contains themes of mental distress, poverty, and self-destructive behavior, which may be triggering for some readers.
Has Romance?
There is a medium level of romance, primarily focused on Gordon's relationship with Rosemary.
From The Publisher:
A pre-cursor to his more famous works of Animal Farm and 1984, Keep the Aspidistra Flying is Orwell's social commentary on capitalism's constraints. Orwell captures the struggles of an aspiring writer with almost pitch-perfect attention to psychological detail, exploring the gulf between art and life.
Gordon Comstock is a poor young man who works in a grubby London bookstore and spends his evenings shivering in a rented room, trying to write. He is determined to stay free of the "money world" of lucrative jobs, family responsibilities, and the kind of security symbolized by the homely aspidistra plant that sits in every middle-class British window.
Ratings (9)
Incredible (1) | |
Loved It (3) | |
Liked It (2) | |
Did Not Like (3) |
Reader Stats (12):
Read It (9) | |
Want To Read (3) |
2 comment(s)
For the most part I really enjoy George Orwell's writing and it's still quite good here. Although the characters and plot did nothing to keep me invested or enjoy it. The book just wasn't my cup of tea but I'm still hopeful that I'll enjoy most of his other works I got left to read
I really like Orwell, I do. I think he is an immensely talented writer and parts of this book are hilarious and biting in their criticisms of post-war capitalistic British society and he is able to paint an in-depth look at a very unique, sad, and incredibly unlikable character. But, it honestly went on way too long with no progress and I grew bored.
What can you read after
Keep the Aspidistra Flying?
About the Author:
GEORGE ORWELL (1903-1950) was born in India and served with the Imperial Police in Burma before joining the Republican Army in the Spanish Civil War. Orwell was the author of six novels, including 1984 and Animal Farm, as well as numerous essays and nonfiction works.
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