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The Road to Wigan Pier

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( 27,496 ratings, 2,260 reviews)
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
The Road to Wigan Pier by George Orwell is a compelling exploration of the harsh living conditions faced by the working class in northern England during the 1930s. Orwell combines his vivid observations of coal miners' lives with a wider discussion on the social structures and attitudes of the time. The book offers a profound critique of societal inequalities and serves as an important historical document on poverty and class in Britain.
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Format: Hardback
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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 interested in a vivid exploration of social and economic conditions in northern England during the 1930s. Orwell's keen observations and powerful prose provide a compelling look at class struggles and the lives of working-class individuals, making it a thought-provoking read in the arts and culture category.

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An angry account of working-class life in the 1930s and a call to embrace social equality. With an introduction by Amelia Gentleman.

An angry account of working-class life in the 1930's and a call to embrace social equality. With an introduction by Amelia Gentleman.

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

The Road to Wigan Pier is a book in two parts: the first half is Orwell's description of working-class life in industrial communities of the north of England, the second examines his own political views.

Part of the Macmillan Collector's Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket-sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition is introduced by Amelia Gentleman.

The Road to Wigan Pier is an insightful and powerful account of lives lived in poverty and deprivation in a time of low wages and meagre government support. Orwell describes dismal housing (including the lodging house where he stays), harsh working conditions and the devastating effects of unemployment. And he also vividly describes the courage and dignity of the people he meets.

In the second half of the book, Orwell examines his own political and social affiliations with an impressive ability to provoke and to question. He defends middle-class values whilst critiquing the failures of his own class, he advocates socialism whilst criticizing the socialist movement in England.

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?

The Road to Wigan Pier is praised for its insightful and powerful depiction of working-class life. George Orwell's mature writing style adeptly captures the struggles of the time, creating an authentic and compelling narrative. The work is recognised as a significant contribution to non-fiction literature, highlighting Orwell's ability to effectively convey complex social issues.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781529032727

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 04 March 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Macmillan Collector's Library

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Amelia Gentleman

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 102.0mm

Height: 156.0mm

Weight: 176g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Eric Arthur Blair (George Orwell) was born in 1903 in India, where his father was a civil servant. After studying at Eton, he served with the Indian Imperial Police in Burma for several years, and this inspired his first novel, Burmese Days. After two years in Paris, he returned to England to work as a teacher and then in a bookshop. In 1936 he travelled to Spain to fight for the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War, where he was badly wounded. During the Second World War he worked for the BBC. A prolific journalist and essayist, Orwell wrote some of the most influential books in English literature, including the dystopian Nineteen Eighty-Four and his political allegory Animal Farm. He died from tuberculosis in 1950.

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