Fallen Days in Paris and London

Author: (English) George Orwell, translated by Hu Renpeng
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-03-01
Features: In this famous work depicting impoverished life, Orwell shows people the true meaning of poverty. The protagonist's misfortune begins when a thief steals from the hotel he stays at, leaving him with only 47 francs in his pocket—a situation clearly already dire, "not impoverished, but on the brink of it." The clever reader might guess that this must be a story about a declining standard of living, but never could have imagined that it would start so tragically, making one wonder: with hundreds of pages still to go, could it really get poorer? How else could one survive? Indeed, Orwell forces this kind of life before us: struggling to work, selling clothes, begging, accepting relief. If there's nothing to eat, one simply lies still. Thus, life ceases to be life and becomes merely about preserving existence. To depict such an experience so shockingly yet authentically is something only those who have lived it can do. Therefore, Orwell is not just an observer but also an experiencer. This kind of life, even if narrated as is, is enough to evoke much reflection, and through Orwell's objective and profound pen, it naturally moves the heart even more.