"Burmese Days"... should you read it?

When George Orwell's Burmese Days was first published in 1934, it received mixed reviews and generated considerable controversy. Some critics praised the novel for its powerful and thought-provoking commentary on imperialism and its effects on both the colonizers and the colonized. Others, however, criticized it for its negative portrayal of Burmese people and its depiction of British colonialism in a less-than-favorable light.

Some reviewers at the time felt that the book depicted the Burmese in a poor light, as subservient, lazy and un-intelligent, in an attempt to justify the British imperialism. This criticism came from both British and Burmese communities and some described it as a work of racist fiction,

Additionally, there were also criticisms from former British officers, who had served in Burma, argued that the book did not accurately depict the reality of their experiences.

Overall, Burmese Days sparked a lot of debate upon its release and continues to be a controversial work, with many differing opinions about its portrayal of imperialism, the colonizers and colonized people, and the impact of British colonialism in Myanmar.

Advantages of reading George Orwell's Burmese Days before visiting Burma include gaining a deeper understanding of the country's colonial history and gaining insight into the perspectives and experiences of colonizers and colonized people. The novel is set in the 1920s and is based on Orwell's experiences as a British police officer in Burma, and it provides a powerful and thought-provoking commentary on imperialism and its effects on both the colonizers and the colonized.

On the other hand, one disadvantage of reading the book before visiting might be that it could give an unbalanced or biased perspective. Additionally, it is set on the period of British colony and It might not reflect the current situation in Myanmar . The country has changed a lot since the period in which the novel is set and certain aspects of Burmese society and culture that Orwell writes about may no longer be relevant today.

It could be also possible that the reading of the book might evoke negative feelings for Myanmar and may influence on how the traveler perceives the country, the people and its culture. It is important to keep in mind that reading Burmese Days is just one source of information and the traveler should be aware that the reality may be different from the novel.