Keep the Aspidistra Flying cover art

Keep the Aspidistra Flying

Penguin Modern Classics

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Gordon Comstock loathes dull, middle-class respectability and worship of money. He gives up a 'good job' in advertising to work part-time in a bookshop, giving him more time to write. But he slides instead into a self-induced poverty that destroys his creativity and his spirit. Only Rosemary, ever-faithful Rosemary, has the strength to challenge his commitment to his chosen way of life. Through the character of Gordon Comstock, Orwell reveals his own disaffection with the society he once himself renounced.

Enlivened with vivid autobiographical detail, George Orwell's Keep the Aspidistra Flying is a tragically witty account of the struggle to escape from a materialistic existence.

(P) Penguin Audio 2021

 Classics Genre Fiction Political Witty
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This is my favourite book and so my review of the text would be biased.

The narration is perfect, though.

Orwell’s finest done full justice

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Witty, and fascinating to observe the main character's mental health issues relating to money.

Interesting comment on 1930s social class & money

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Having read this 40 years ago it was great to hear it performed so beautifully. Perfect voice for this book.

Brilliant classic

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I love this book which has been destroyed by one of the most annoying voices I have ever listened to. The voice turned this book into a bit of a joke, the up and down intonation and semi boyish, childlike tone. Hated it.

Annoying voice

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