The Road to Wigan Pier

By: George Orwell

Narrated by: Jeremy Northam

A graphic and biting polemic that still holds a fierce political relevance and impact despite being written over half a century ago. First published in 1937 it charts George Orwell's observations of working-class life during the 1930s in the industrial heartlands of Yorkshire and Lancashire. His depictions of social injustice and rising unemployment, the dangerous working conditions in the mines amid general squalor and hunger also bring together many of the ideas explored in his later works and novels.

©2012 Canongate Books (P)2012 George Orwell

A classic

As relevant today as it was 80 years ago. A must read for anyone interested in the history and politics of the last century.

not what I expected

it went by too quick. I'm the furthest from a political socialist, and I absolutely loved the world he described on his way. from the scabs on the spines of coal miners to his self reflection over other socialists and his own action really are one ponder I wish I read this years ago.

Class a pathogen

"You can sympathize with a murderer, a sodomite, but bot if his breath stinks." Great insight on the class system.

Well read and informative

Great perspective on mining, socialism, communism, and fascism. You would never think how much something as simple as canned food could play an enormous role in society. The reader put great emotion into the story and made me feel like he was the actual author at these locations and in that period of time.

As insightful as ever

Listen to it at 2.5x speed. Interesting to read it with the knowledge of hindsight.