robdabear's review against another edition
4.0
Perhaps one of the better political books I've ever read, classic Orwell. A fascinating overview of working class conditions in early 20th century northern England, and a fair and perhaps prescient criticism of socialism. A bit boring at times, but honest and with an occasional hint of dry humor.
sfletcher26's review against another edition
3.0
This is a book very much of two halves. The first is a straight descriptive piece on the life of the working class's in the north of England. very reminiscent of Down and Out in Paris and London it is an amazing read, well written and interesting to read.
The second half however is a work of socialist appology that starts out well but soon becomes unreadable unfortunately. For me part of the reason for this is that his thoughts on mechanisation are now completely dated and hopelessly simplistic.
Still well worth the time spent reading it though.
The second half however is a work of socialist appology that starts out well but soon becomes unreadable unfortunately. For me part of the reason for this is that his thoughts on mechanisation are now completely dated and hopelessly simplistic.
Still well worth the time spent reading it though.
caitlin_duxbury's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
tnanz's review against another edition
5.0
Oof. One of the best novels about poverty and privilege I've ever read. Makes me desperately glad I'm not a miner.
sarah_dietrich's review against another edition
3.0
George Orwell's The Road to Wigan Pier is one of his three non-fiction books. The first half is an account of Orwell's time spent in Northern England mining towns, seeing how people live & work. The writing here is very similar to Down and Out in Paris and London - the people Orwell writes about are working in awful conditions and struggling with long-term poverty. The second half of the book is Orwell's analysis of what must be done to remedy the awful conditions the lower classes are trapped in. This read quite similarly to some of Orwell's essays & he advocates strongly for a socialist solution. Overall, an interesting study of the challenges faced by mining communities in 1930's England.
Not one of my favourites of Orwell's work - I prefer Down and Out in Paris and London to the first half, and prefer Orwell's essays to the second half.
Not one of my favourites of Orwell's work - I prefer Down and Out in Paris and London to the first half, and prefer Orwell's essays to the second half.