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  • The Road to Wigan Pier

  • By: George Orwell
  • Narrated by: Jeremy Northam
  • Length: 7 hrs and 37 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,732 ratings)
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The Road to Wigan Pier cover art

The Road to Wigan Pier

By: George Orwell
Narrated by: Jeremy Northam
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Summary

A graphic and biting polemic that still holds a fierce political relevance and impact despite being written over half a century ago. First published in 1937 it charts George Orwell's observations of working-class life during the 1930s in the industrial heartlands of Yorkshire and Lancashire. His depictions of social injustice and rising unemployment, the dangerous working conditions in the mines amid general squalor and hunger also bring together many of the ideas explored in his later works and novels.

©2012 Canongate Books (P)2012 George Orwell

What listeners say about The Road to Wigan Pier

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A biting attack on socialists within a strong argument for socialism.

Much of the book is of historical interest only but it also contains many acute observations that remain relevant today. I laughed out loud in recognition at some of the descriptions.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

What an eye opener.

we read this many years back at school, but it lacked the punch it has now, as I lived in a house with no bathroom and a toilet down the yard. Looking at it from today's mollycoddled life style it is hard to believe that such squalid living conditions were the norm for my parents generation.
Next time someone speaks of 'White privilege', I've a mind to ram a copy of this book down their throat.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Classic social commentary

Surprised how many things have not changed and how some have. At least the poverty is no where near as unbearable as it was then. The right and left still don't seem to have changed much though. The sandal wearing, upper class Corbyns were around then too.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Prescient book! Shame the lessons in it are yet to be learned.

Second half better than the first, so stick with it. Despite this boom being ~80 years old, it is the clearest thinking I’ve ever read on socialism and fascism.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

I struggled, got bored.....

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Mmm, I studied this at uni 30 years ago and loved it then! So I thought I'd re listen and I just felt bogged down with the socialist debates and repetition of incidents and arguments. George Orwell was a genius but unfortunately outside of the classroom I couldn't stomach it. Couldn't fault the narration though.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting, captivating and engaging

I really enjoyed this audio book. It was performed brilliantly and the only reason I didn't give a perfect review is due to the story itself drying up a bit towards the end. A great read!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • DM
  • 25-04-19

Sticking it to the bearded juice drinkers

A rough-around-the-edges classic. This version is superbly read by Jeremy Northam who, to me, perfectly captures Orwell's tone: passionate, introspective, scathing, etc. It's just great.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Eye opening look in to the past.

Nothing much has changed in the years following this books publication. The poor are still downtrodden whilst the rich make their cash through arms sales to both sides. I cannot speak for England of course as I'm a proud Scottish man! Nationalism is on the rise again.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not my cuppa

way to angry and serious for me but I did get the point re poor conditions for miners, mechanisation etc but it was hard going

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome book.

Listened to it for A-level. Really enjoyed hearing his opinions and observations. Also I will now never wear sandals and a pistachio shirt.

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