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Down and Out in Paris and London

By George Orwell
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Brief Description
Down and Out in Paris and London is George Orwell's memoir of living in poverty in Paris during the 1920s. 'You can live on a shilling a day in Paris if you know how. But it is a complicated business.' As a struggling writer in his... Read More
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Down and Out in Paris and London is George Orwell's memoir of living in poverty in Paris during the 1920s.

'You can live on a shilling a day in Paris if you know how. But it is a complicated business.'

As a struggling writer in his twenties, Orwell lived as a down-and-out among the poorest members of society. In this early memoir, Orwell recalls with vivid clarity his time working as a penniless dishwasher in Paris, pawning clothes to buy a day's worth of bread and wine, sleeping in bug-infested bunks, trading survival skills and cigarette butts with fellow tramps, and trudging between London's workhouse spikes for a few hours' sleep and tea.

With all the sensitivity and compassion that Orwell is known and loved for, he exposed the hardships of poverty and gave readers an unprecedented look at life lived on the fringes of society.

This vivid account is an enduring call to support the world's most vulnerable people and exemplifies his belief that 'The greatest of evils and the worst of crimes is poverty.'

With an introduction by Kerry Hudson.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781784878993

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 March 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 14.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 171g

Pages: 240

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About the Author

George Orwell (1903-1950) is one of England's most famous writers and social commentators. He is the author of the classic political satire Animal Farm and the dystopian masterpiece Nineteen Eighty-Four. He is also well known for his essays and journalism, particularly his works covering his travels and his time fighting in the Spanish Civil War. His writing is celebrated for its piercing clarity, purpose and wit and his books continue to be bestsellers all over the world.

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