Classic as relevant as ever today

This account of working class life and critique of 1930s British socialist efforts to improve it is very much a product of its time, and yet couldn't be more relevant today, as the suffering of many, the spectre of fascism, and the left's blind self-handicapping stare us in the face again. The narrator's accent and tone might bother you, but perhaps this is how Orwell sounded!

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insight into life for the poor 1930s

George Orwell's insights from having lived among working class, coal miners, all sorts of poor in their poverty is far clearer than any documentary could be. It's read in such a way you almost can imagine being there. Dropped a star for some anti-Catholic bigotry. When Chesterton said it was not Catholic to be a tea drinker he was clearly joking and Orwell quotes as if it was a serious comment.

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Dismal listening

I think I was expecting something different from what I thought I saw getting. In my defense, I did listen to the sample and was drawn in by Jeremy Northam’s narration.

This is an audible documentary of the village’s, homes and people in Wigan of the mining community
It’s really quite depressing, but strangely unputdownable.

It’s difficult to rate it as it’s neither one thing or another. Poor story but interesting documentary style.

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A must read

While written with an obvious personal feeling of superiority and some pompousness Orwell is to be admired because he makes no pretence of it. It's why you gotta love the guy. Like many have said, there are many similarities that can be drawn today, not the least of which is that there has been very little change in attitude and most of our 21st century "socialists" are of the very type he rails against.

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As relevant today as when it was written

Where does The Road to Wigan Pier rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the top 5, I was stunned / concern how relevant Orwell's comments were to today's life

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Road to Wigan Pier?

How little things have changed. Sure to absolute poverty of the 1930's is no longer around, or is it.............................?

What about Jeremy Northam’s performance did you like?

He conveyed the seriousness of the book, and got the tone of Orwell spot on.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me think how little life had changed from my Grandfathers life to mine

Any additional comments?

Everyone should take time to listen to this book, we need to change our lives for the betterment of all not just the few

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1 person found this helpful

A Vision Of Our Future

While many see the relevance of 1984 or Animal Farm, The Road to Wigan Pier is often ignored in the mainstream. Yet, its reflections on socialism are every bit as meaningful and accurate today and, in fact, in light of the economic suicide of the West this year - the tales of the poorest in the UK just one hundred years ago, feel almost like a prophecy for 2021. Sadly, the new poor probably won't even get bacon sandwiches, just plant-based vile tasting anti-nutritious replacements in the name of saving a planet that these people never had a say in the destruction of. Jeremy Northam's reading is masterful too. Everyone ought to read this, sadly, it is probably destined to remain in the shadow of its more famous siblings.

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Excellent

A long book to listen to but worth it. Despite the book being around 80 years old there are definite parallels to today's society. The last chapter, indeed the last paragraph is particularly significant.

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Jeremy Northam's golden voice + Orwell = success!

5* 5* 5* 5* 5* 5* 5* 5* 5* 5* 5* 5* 5* 5* 5* 5* 5* 5* great. Well worth it. Buy it. Yes.

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Great should be read by any aspiring politician

Fabulous, so many contemporary parallels. Rise of fascism, attitude to the working classes etc. Read this and see how little the world has actually progressed

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Not for everyone

I am a massive Orwell fan and have wanted to read this one of his for a long while. It has come as a disappointment. I was hoping for a literary account of mining communities between the wars in a similar style to "Down and out" and this book is far from that.

Bad things:
The book is slow, repetitive, at times preachy and jammed full of prejudices which were embarrassing even taking into account the time in which it was written.

Good things:
Between the constant talk of sandal wearing vegans and lists of household incomes, Orwell does drop in a few lines of the pure genius and clairvoyance for which he is know.

Worth a read if your a massive Orwell fan or a politics student, otherwise, I recommend Down and out in Paris and London instead.

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