Down and Out in Paris and London Audiobook By George Orwell cover art

Down and Out in Paris and London

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Down and Out in Paris and London

By: George Orwell
Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.47

Buy for $17.47

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

Orwell's own experiences inspire this semi-autobiographical novel about a man living in Paris in the early 1930s without a penny. The narrator's poverty brings him into contact with strange incidents and characters, which he manages to chronicle with great sensitivity and graphic power. The latter half of the book takes the English narrator to his home city, London, where the world of poverty is different in externals only.

A socialist who believed that the lower classes were the wellspring of world reform, Orwell actually went to live among them in England and on the continent. His novel draws on his experiences of this world, from the bottom of the echelon in the kitchens of posh French restaurants to the free lodging houses, tramps, and street people of London. In the tales of both cities, we learn some sobering truths about poverty and society.

©1962 S. M. Pitt-Rivers (P)1993 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction England France Funny
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

"Genuine, unexaggerated, and intelligent." - ( New Republic)
"The most lucid portrait of poverty in the English language...combines good narrative with wit, humor, and honest realism." ( The Nation)
"Excellent...a model of the realistic approach." ( New York Times Book Review)

Featured Article: 40+ Thought-Provoking George Orwell Quotes


George Orwell transformed literature with his piercing social commentary and allegorical style. His works have become so entrenched in popular culture that the term "Orwellian" is used to describe totalitarian and authoritarian societies. Orwell also wrote nonfiction books and essays that similarly express his gift for satire and controversial views on government. Throughout his writing career, he never feared tackling challenging topics, no matter how subversive.

What listeners say about Down and Out in Paris and London

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    690
  • 4 Stars
    229
  • 3 Stars
    92
  • 2 Stars
    24
  • 1 Stars
    6
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    656
  • 4 Stars
    186
  • 3 Stars
    55
  • 2 Stars
    17
  • 1 Stars
    9
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    604
  • 4 Stars
    202
  • 3 Stars
    81
  • 2 Stars
    24
  • 1 Stars
    7

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Surprisingly Engaging

There were enough interesting stories and vignettes to make this read like a novel. Interspersed are Orwell's observations - which are concise and thoughtful. I happen to like the narrator. As such, it was an enjoyable listen for me.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Great but for the anti-Semitism

This is a thoughtful and colorful tale that is a sympathetic portrait of post WWI poverty but sadly marred by Orwell’s anti-Semitism, which I was unprepared for.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliantly voiced. Wonderful stories

The narrator awesomely voices all the characters. The stories are full of social commentary and interesting stories. Highly recommend.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent performance adding to the text

This books contains lots of interesting anecdotes and stories. It will for instance change the way you see restaurants and what happens in the kitchen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I liked how the stories were told

This is an interesting book opening one to a style of living that you will never experience hopefully.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Hilariously enlightening

Very interesting story on living on the poverty line in the 1920s. Davidson's accents are brilliant.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Poverty 1930s style

interesting look at poverty when there were no handouts from the government. 2 things came to mind. freedom us having nothing left to lose. the other was a comment from my grandfather about the Depression. wasn't bad, if you had a job.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Orwell's thought provoking writing

As always Orwell sheds light on aspects and feelings of society that are missed or passed by for the masses.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved Orwell’s description of poverty

Poverty is the most interesting of topics to me. Never enough books on the topic. this is one classics I have never managed to read. It was a great pleasure to finally do so.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely magnificent

in my opinion this is one of George Orwell's greatest works because of the Shadows just how dedicated he was to Accurate first person storytelling. the most shocking part of everything is hearing how little has actually changed since the 1930s. Chapter 22 spoke to me to me significantly.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!