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Keep the Aspidistra Flying

By George Orwell
Series: Penguin Modern Classics
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3.89 goodreads logo

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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Keep the Aspidistra Flying by George Orwell follows the protagonist, Gordon Comstock, who rebels against the materialism of 1930s London by abandoning his advertising career to pursue a life dedicated to poetry. As he struggles with poverty and his relationships, he grapples with the contradictions of his ideals and the harsh realities of life. The novel explores themes of societal expectations, the pursuit of art, and personal dignity.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by incisive critiques of societal norms and the struggles of maintaining individuality against economic pressures. It delves into themes of poverty and the societal obsession with money, delivering a thought-provoking and satirical reflection of early 20th-century Britain. This story will appeal to readers who appreciate Orwell's sharp prose and keen observation of human behaviours.

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Keep the Aspidistra Flying

Gordon Comstock loathes dull, middle-class respectability and worship of money. He gives up a 'good job' in advertising to work part-time in a bookshop, giving him more time to write. But he slides instead into a self-induced poverty that destroys his creativity and his spirit.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Keep the Aspidistra Flying follows Gordon Comstock, a man who loathes dull, middle-class respectability and the worship of money. He abandons a 'good job' in advertising to work part-time in a bookshop, intending to gain more time to write.

However, instead of flourishing, he slides into self-induced poverty, which gradually destroys his creativity and spirit. Only Rosemary, ever-faithful Rosemary, has the strength to challenge his commitment to his chosen way of life.

Through the character of Gordon Comstock, Orwell reveals his own disaffection with the society he once renounced himself.

Series: Penguin Modern Classics

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Keep the Aspidistra Flying is lauded for its raw portrayal of poverty, characterised by its stark and harrowing narrative. Critics note the use of clear and forceful language to vividly depict the struggles and disillusionment of the protagonist amidst financial distress. Cyril Connolly highlights the intense and unflinching manner in which Orwell addresses the themes of societal and personal failures.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141183725

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 26 October 2000

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Notes by Peter Davison

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 17.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 225g

Pages: 304

Collections

Fiction General Fiction George Orwell Literary Fiction Penguin Books Penguin Classics Series: Penguin Modern Classics

About the Author

Eric Arthur Blair (1903-1950), better known by his pen-name, George Orwell, was born in India, where his father worked for the Civil Service. An author and journalist, Orwell was one of the most prominent and influential figures in twentieth-century literature. His unique political allegory Animal Farm was published in 1945, and it was this novel, together with the dystopia of Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), which brought him world-wide fame. His novels and non-fiction include Burmese Days, Down and Out in Paris and London, The Road to Wigan Pier and Homage to Catalonia.

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