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brannigan 's review for:
Down and Out in Paris and London
by George Orwell
In the 1920s, old Etonian George Orwell chose to slum it with the tramps in and around London, and as a pot washer in sleazy Paris restaurants. His memoirs of the time represent an engaging and surprisingly touching social commentary, with a style that, at times, kind of prefigured the gonzo journalism of Hunter S. Thompson.
Down and Out is at times devastating in its portraits of those he met on the road, with all their individual iterations of what it means to be at rock-bottom. He’s also not shy to provoke acute disgust at some of his lice-infested, filthy living and working conditions.
I particularly enjoyed his interjected critiques on the nature of labour, first about the work of a Parisian restaurant dishwasher and then about the “work” of a London beggar -
We see in this the the seed that was to become the essence of David Graeber’s Bullshit Jobs many decades later.
Four stars - one star deducted because a little research shows that he may have played a little fast and loose with the truth in terms of how events actually unfolded a few times. But a great read nonetheless.
Down and Out is at times devastating in its portraits of those he met on the road, with all their individual iterations of what it means to be at rock-bottom. He’s also not shy to provoke acute disgust at some of his lice-infested, filthy living and working conditions.
I particularly enjoyed his interjected critiques on the nature of labour, first about the work of a Parisian restaurant dishwasher and then about the “work” of a London beggar -
“A navvy works by swinging a pick. An accountant works by adding up figures. A beggar works by standing out of doors in all weathers and getting varicose veins, chronic bronchitis, etc. It is a trade like any other; quite useless, of course- but then, many reputable trades are quite useless”.
We see in this the the seed that was to become the essence of David Graeber’s Bullshit Jobs many decades later.
Four stars - one star deducted because a little research shows that he may have played a little fast and loose with the truth in terms of how events actually unfolded a few times. But a great read nonetheless.