Down and Out in Paris and London cover art

Down and Out in Paris and London

 Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

£5.99/mo after trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options

Down and Out in Paris and London

By: George Orwell
Narrated by: Jeremy Northam
Try for £0.00

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £13.25

Buy Now for £13.25

About this listen

An autobiographical study, Down and Out in Paris and London follows Orwell as he tramps around both Paris and London. Pawning his belongings to buy food, unemployment, drinking heavily and jostling for a place in homeless hostels are but a few of the experiences related with candour and insight in this unabridged exclusive audiobook. Orwell was arguably one of the first 'gonzo' journalists.

In this unabridged, enlightening and often shocking expose of life on the streets of two of Europe's most romanticised and celebrated cities, Orwell describes in detail the day-to-day life of a 'down-and-out', which involves hunger, filth, derision and often prejudice and violence. Alcohol is also a staple distraction on both sides of the channel for the destitute, and Orwell's comments on issues such as the emasculation of a man when he becomes a tramp (women see him as 'less than' a man and will not interact with him) are truly fascinating.

©1933 George Orwell Estate (P)2009 CSA Word Classics Poverty & Homelessness Social Sciences Inspiring Thought-Provoking England
All stars
Most relevant
An excellent and eye opening read. Fantastically written about a world many of us would know nothing of. Despite being about Europe between the wars Orwell's writing is as relevant today as ever.

Still relevant

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I've been meaning to read this for years, saw the audio book and really enjoyed both the clarity of the writing and the excellent performance.

Brilliant

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Astonishing story, narrator performed remarkably. Highly recommended. Its insightful, full of humour and dark. The subject matter is experiences of being really down and out.

Outstanding

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I adore George Orwell, not only is he an incredibly gifted writer, he's a cat with nine lives. From living in Burma to fighting in the Spanish Civil War, Orwell has a lived a life rich with experiences hence he is able to make observations many journalists cannot. In this case, Orwell lived in squalor and absolute poverty in both Paris and London, not out of choice mind, but because he had become destitute and extremely poor during his early 20s.

His life living with an extrovert Russian in Paris is vivid, describing real hunger, having had nothing to eat for several days. He ends up working in a few godforsaken squalid hotels in Paris as a dishwasher, with long hours just to make ends meet and quench his hunger. Eventually, after working with rats, he has no choice but to return to England (borrowing money) and finds that it isn't much different. The homeless shelters are basically prison cells, dark and dangerous, but a way to keep off the streets.

In the end, he attempts to give recommendations to what can be done to alleviate the plight of the poverty stricken. It is another interesting chapter of his short but eventful life.

George Orwell, a man of many experiences

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Everyone should read this book as a warning about life without a safety net.
Jeremy Northam's narration is superb his characterisation spot on.

A real insight

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews