Keep the Aspidistra Flying (Unabridged)

“Money, money, always money.”

In Keep the Aspidistra Flying, Orwell draws on many of his own experiences as a struggling writer in 1930s London to offer a sharp critique of capitalist values and the quiet desperation of those caught between ideals and survival.

Disillusioned would-be poet Gordon Comstock rebels against the materialism of middle-class life by rejecting a steady job and the pursuit of money, chosing poverty as a form of protest. But as he navigates his choices he becomes trapped in a cycle of self-neglect and economic hardship, and eventually makes a circular journey back towards the very life he despises. Keep the Aspidistra Flying is a bitingly satirical portrayal of urban poverty and the struggle for authenticity in a materialistic world as Gordon struggles with pride, love, and the harsh realities of life.

Born Eric Arthur Blair, George Orwell (1903-1950) was a British novelist, essayist, and critic famous for his insightful social and political commentary. His personal engagement with real world issues imbues his work with a sense of social conscience that continues to resonate with readers, and his two most famous novels, Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four, continue to captivate audiences worldwide.