Keep the Aspidistra Flying cover art

Keep the Aspidistra Flying

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Keep the Aspidistra Flying

By: George Orwell
Narrated by: Richard E. Grant
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About this listen

Gordon Comstock loathes dull, middle-class respectability and worship of money. He gives up a 'good job' in advertising to work part-time in a bookshop, giving him more time to write. But he slides instead into a self-induced poverty that destroys his creativity and his spirit. Only Rosemary, ever-faithful Rosemary, has the strength to challenge his commitment to his chosen way of life. Through the character of Gordon Comstock, Orwell reveals his own disaffection with the society he once himself renounced.

©2011 CSA Word (P)2011 CSA Word Classics Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Political

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All stars
Most relevant  
The production quality was poor. At times the audio quality was bad and there were announcements in the middle of chapters - "End of CD3. CD4." Terrible.

Poor production quality

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This is a fantastic book, and very much characteristic of its time. Fascinating material, great great reading from Richard E Grant.
Unfortunately, this recording is clearly ripped directly from a cd, and includes not just Richard E Grant referencing "END OF CD ONE" etc, but also the honest to goodness sound of the CD skipping! Please someone at Penguin, sort this out! Just find a different, unscratched copy of the CD to rip!

Great book, unfortunate quality

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This is my first encounter with George Orwell. I loved it. Next stop... Wigan Pier!

Keep that Aspidistra Flying...

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Not a light read this is the fairly depressing story of a failing poet and money obsession.
Richard E Grant does narrate excellently well and does very good vpices

Strange book, marvellously narrated

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This is not Orwell best book, in his own opinion, but as a fan of his work it is worth listening to. Poet Gordon Comstock is a struggling writer and social Drop-Out who, like Orwell himself, turns his back on his middle class roots and lives his life in the misery of those at the bottom of the social hierarchy, but has a burning hatred of the values of middle class life.

Very entertainingly read.



Nor Orwell's best, but worth a listen.

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absolutely loved it, narration is exquisite, very funny and beautiful and sad and perfect, George Orwell I love him now

best ever audiobooks top 3 of my favourite

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Orwell didn’t like this apparently, but thank goodness it was published. Reviewers and readers suggest that the joke hidden in Gordon Comstock’s collection of poetry title, ‘Mice’, is found in the work of Horace.

Excellent narration.

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Comstock is every writer and what every writer hates and fears to be...Orwell's book has never been recognised for the comic Classic it is.

Wonderful rendition...

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Gordon is at war with money and the expectations of society. This is the main thread of Orwell's brilliant farce. Gordon rejects all offers of financial help, as it is his ambition to never comply with traditional careers and marriage advice. He fumbles through life, apparently without direction, and this is his pleasure and his downfall combined. The chapters are full with descriptions of Gordon's farcical strategy, and high comedy ( the scene of Gordon's I'll advised celebratory night out with friends is very, very funny). Along with 'coming up for air' it's light tone is a lovely contrast to Orwell's later works. Very enjoyable.

An unexpected pleasure.

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although grim at times I do love Orwell's descriptive writing.. he really puts you there in amongst all the squalor, which has the effect on me of realising how lucky I am ...
fantastically read by Mr Grant..

well read

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