'This novel is one of his finest in a long and redoubtable oeuvre' William Boyd New York Times
From renowned author Paul Theroux comes a fascinating atmospheric novel inspired by George
Orwell's years in Burma There is a short period in everyone's life when his character is fixed
forever . . . ' George Orwell Eric Blair stood out amongst his fellow police trainees in 1920s
Burma. Nineteen years old unusually tall a diffident loner fresh from Eton after five years
spent in the narrow colonial world of the Raj - a decaying system steeped in overt racism and
petty class-conflict - he would emerge as the George Orwell we know. Drawing on all his powers
of observation and imagination Paul Theroux brings Orwell's Burma years to radiant life
tracing the development of the young man's consciousness as he confronts the social racial and
class politics and the reality of Burma beyond. Through one writer we come to understand
another - and see how what Orwell called 'five boring years within the sound of bugles' were in
fact the years that made him. 'Thoroughly enjoyable . . . [Theroux's] approach is like that of
a skilful subtle barrister who patiently lays out his evidence gradually ensnaring the
reader' Times Literary Supplement 'Always a terrific teller of tales and conjurer of exotic
locales' Sunday Times'The most gifted most prodigal writer of his generation' Jonathan Raban
