37 pages • 1 hour read
The Road to Wigan Pier
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Book Brief
215
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
England • 1930s
1937
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The Road to Wigan Pier by George Orwell details the author's firsthand experiences in early 20th-century Britain, depicting the challenging lives of working-class communities. Orwell stays in a dilapidated boarding house, explores dangerous mines, and critiques the misinformation about miners' wages. He argues that socialism is essential for alleviating poverty and combating emerging fascism in 1930s Europe. Topics of poverty, exploitation, and harsh working conditions are prevalent.
Informative
Challenging
Gritty
Melancholic
Dark
Reviews & Readership
29,563 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
George Orwell's The Road to Wigan Pier offers a penetrating look into the harsh realities of working-class life in 1930s England, combining vivid reportage with personal reflection. Reviewers praise its compelling narrative and social critique but note some controversial views and dated perspectives. Overall, it remains a powerful, thought-provoking read.
Who Should Read The Road to Wigan Pier?
A reader who would enjoy The Road to Wigan Pier by George Orwell is typically interested in social commentary, history, and class issues. They often appreciate works like The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck and Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell. This reader values detailed, first-hand accounts of working-class struggles and economic inequality.
29,563 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Mr. Brooker
Mr. Brooker
Owner of a lodging house and a miner who struggles with poverty and focuses intensely on financial survival. He is characterized by poor hygiene and a transactional view of human relationships.
Mrs. Brooker
Mrs. Brooker
Mr. Brooker's wife, who is confined to a couch in the kitchen due to sickness but remains involved in the lodging house. She is portrayed as demanding and critical, with her condition symbolizing the struggles faced by the working class.
215
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
England • 1930s
1937
Adult
18+ years
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