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“Down and Out in Paris is a classic Orwell text and not...”

written by alan cole on 01/08/2005

Down and Out in Paris is a classic Orwell text and not to be overlooked in favour of the better known Orwell novels. It provides a brilliant political and social insight into the struggles of those at the bottom end of society in the two great cities of London and Paris during the social upheavals of the 1930s. It is also written with humour as Orwell goes 'undercover' visiting various flophouses and dingy apartments. Also contains the classic Orwell quote: "There is no greater snob than a waiter" based on his observations working in downmarket Parisian restaurants. Much favoured as a literary role model of the American beat writers of the sixties.