Summary

 

Down and Out in Paris and London (1933)

 

This book tells the story of a financially unstable English writer. It starts with the narrator living in Paris and teaching English. The book shows the ugly truth behind the poverty that existed in Paris at the time. The narrator faces financial issues and is unable to support himself. The narrator contacts his friend Boris in an attempt to find work. However, Boris is also without work and is practically starving to death. After several months, the narrator and Boris find work at a hotel. Later, Boris convinces the narrator to quit the hotel job for a seemingly better job at an upscale restaurant. The narrator is shocked by what he sees happening behind the scenes. The restaurant is luxurious and clean, but the kitchen is disgusting. Love does not exist in the narrator’s life. He is too busy struggling through each day and desperately trying to financially support himself enough to be able to afford food and shelter. The narrator travels to London after being promised a job as a babysitter, but then discovers that the job is not yet available to him, because the family who offered him the job is out of the country. Once again unable to support himself, the narrator has to sell his belongings to try to make ends meet. However, he spends too much money on hotels, and is then forced to start living as a bum. He is forced to sleep in lodges and eat at shelters, which he hates. During his time in shelters and on the streets, he wishes that England would do something to help those who cannot support themselves. In the end, the narrator takes out a loan and has eight more days left until his employers return and he can have a job again.

 

Burmese Days (1934)

This book takes place during British colonialism. U Po Kyin is the judicial officer of Kyauktada, Burma. He plans to destroy the career of Dr. Veraswami. John Flory is a timber merchant who lives in Burma. U Po Kyin writes false stories about the doctor and threatens Flory because of his friendship with Dr. Veraswami. Flory becomes very close with Mrs. Lackersteen’s niece, Elizabeth, who moves to Burma. He wishes to marry her, but Mrs. Lackersteen stops the proposal, because Verall, a military officer, is coming to the district and wishes to marry Elizabeth. Mrs. Lackersteen tells Elizabeth about Flory’s Burmese mistress, so Elizabeth instead fall for Verall. This devastates Flory. U Po Kyin is still trying to sabotage the doctor, and he plans a rebellion that he will blame on Dr. Veraswami. The rebellion is started, and an officer kills a native. The officer is found dead shortly after, which causes a riot. U Po Kyin tries to stop the riot to become a hero, but the riot is instead stopped by Flory. This act ruins U Po Kyin’s plan to sabotage the doctor as well. After the riot, Verall leaves Burma, and Flory and Elizabeth plan to wed again. However, unable to let go of his plans of sabotage, U Po Kyin hires Flory’s old mistress to ruin Flory and Elizabeth’s relationship. Elizabeth leaves Flory, and he is so distraught that he commits suicide. All of U Po Kyin’s plans succeed. He plans to fix his life to become a better person, but he dies before he is able to do so.