|
Burmese Days
''Burmese Days'' is the first novel and second book by English writer George Orwell, published in 1934. Set in British Burma during the waning days of empire, when Burma was ruled from Delhi as part of British India, the novel serves as "a portrait of the dark side of the British Raj." At the centre of the novel is John Flory, "the lone and lacking individual trapped within a bigger system that is undermining the better side of human nature." The novel describes "both indigenous corruption and imperial bigotry" in a society where, "after all, natives were natives—interesting, no doubt, but finally...an inferior people". ''Burmese Days'' was first published "further afield," in the United States, because of concerns that it might be potentially libelous; that the real provincial town of Katha had been described too realistically; and that some of its fictional characters were based too closely on identifiable people. A British edition, with altered names, appeared a year lat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
George Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950) was an English novelist, poet, essayist, journalist, and critic who wrote under the pen name of George Orwell. His work is characterised by lucid prose, social criticism, opposition to all totalitarianism (both authoritarian communism and fascism), and support of democratic socialism. Orwell is best known for his allegorical novella ''Animal Farm'' (1945) and the Utopian and dystopian fiction, dystopian novel ''Nineteen Eighty-Four'' (1949), although his works also encompass literary criticism, poetry, fiction and polemical journalism. His non-fiction works, including ''The Road to Wigan Pier'' (1937), documenting his experience of working-class life in the industrial north of England, and ''Homage to Catalonia'' (1938), an account of his experiences soldiering for the Republican faction (Spanish Civil War), Republican faction of the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), are as critically respected as George Orwell bibliograph ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Irrawaddy Delta
The Irrawaddy Delta or Ayeyarwady Delta lies in the Irrawaddy Division, the lowest expanse of land in Myanmar (Burma) that fans out from the limit of tidal influence at Myan Aung to the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, to the south at the mouth of the Ayeyarwady River. The delta region is densely populated, and plays a dominant role in rice cultivation in its rich alluvial soil as low as just above sea level. It also includes fishing communities in a vast area full of rivers and streams. Geography Arms and terrain The Irrawaddy Delta comprises the main arms of Pathein River, Pyapon River, Bogale River, and Toe River. Mawtin Point, formerly Cape Negrais, is a famous landmark in the Irrawaddy Division, and it also marks the south west end of Myanmar. The delta begins around 93km above Hinthada. The highest point of the delta, Waphu Mount () lies between Pathein and Mawtin Zun (point), on the western strip of the delta. A major portion of the area is covered with low-lying l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pukka Sahib
Pukka sahib ( ) is a slang term taken from the Hindi words for "substantial" (literally "ripe") and "master". Among English users, "pukka" came to signify "first class" or "absolutely genuine", so that the combined phrase can be translated as "true gentleman" or "excellent fellow". The expression was used in the British Empire exclusively to refer to White people of European extraction and frequently to describe an attitude which British administrators were said to affect, that of an "aloof, impartial, incorruptible arbiter of the political fate of a large part of the earth's surface." The word "pukka" is still used informally in 21st-century Britain to describe something as excellent. See also *Sahib *Pukka Pies Pukka Pies is a manufacturer of pies based in Syston, Leicestershire, England. Products The company's products include single-serve and sharing pies, sausage rolls, pasties, catering sausages, frozen puff pastry, and non-meat foods, with ... References Br ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jonathan Cape
Jonathan Cape is a British publishing firm headquartered in London and founded in 1921 by Herbert Jonathan Cape, who was head of the firm until his death. Cape and his business partner Wren Howard (1893–1968) set up the publishing house in 1921. They established a reputation for high-quality design and production and a fine list of English-language authors, fostered by the firm's editor and publisher's reader, reader Edward Garnett. Cape's list of writers ranged from poets including Robert Frost and C. Day Lewis, to children's authors such as Roald Dahl, Hugh Lofting and Arthur Ransome, to James Bond novels by Ian Fleming, to heavyweight fiction by James Joyce and T. E. Lawrence. After Cape's death, the firm later merged successively with three other London publishing houses. In 1987 it was taken over by Random House. Its name continues as one of Random House's British Imprint (trade name), imprints. Cape – biography Early years Herbert Jonathan Cape was born in London o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Heinemann (book Publisher)
William Heinemann Ltd., with the imprint Heinemann, was a London-based publisher founded in 1890 by William Heinemann. Their first published book, 1890's The Bondman (novel), ''The Bondman'', was a huge success in the United Kingdom and launched the company. He was joined in 1893 by Sydney Pawling. Heinemann died in 1920 and Pawling sold the company to Doubleday (publisher), Doubleday, having worked with them in the past to publish their works in the United States. Pawling died in 1922 and new management took over. Doubleday sold his interest in 1933. Through the 1920s, the company was well known for publishing works by famous authors that had previously been published as Serial (literature), serials. Among these were works by H. G. Wells, Rudyard Kipling, W. Somerset Maugham, George Moore (novelist), George Moore, Max Beerbohm and Henry James, among others. This attracted new authors to publish their first editions with the company, including Graham Greene, Edward Upward, J. B. Pr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Libel
Defamation is a communication that injures a third party's reputation and causes a legally redressable injury. The precise legal definition of defamation varies from country to country. It is not necessarily restricted to making assertions that are falsifiable, and can extend to concepts that are more abstract than reputationlike dignity and honour. In the English-speaking world, the law of defamation traditionally distinguishes between libel (written, printed, posted online, published in mass media) and slander (oral speech). It is treated as a civil wrong (tort, delict), as a criminal offence, or both. Defamation and related laws can encompass a variety of acts (from general defamation and insultas applicable to every citizen – to specialized provisions covering specific entities and social structures): * Defamation against a legal person in general * Insult against a legal person in general * Acts against public officials * Acts against state insti ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Insein Prison
Insein Prison () is located in Yangon Division, near Yangon (Rangoon), the old capital of Myanmar (formerly Burma). From 1988 to 2011 it was run by the military junta of Myanmar, named the State Law and Order Restoration Council from 1988 to 2003 and the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) from 2003 to 2011, and was used largely to repress political dissidents. The prison is notorious worldwide for its inhumane conditions, corruption, abuse of inmates, and use of mental and physical torture. The facility is closed to the public, but its distinctive radial design is visible from the air when departing Yangon by plane. History Insein Prison was established in 1887 during British colonial rule, approximately north of downtown Rangoon (now Yangon). The facility was constructed to relieve overcrowding at the Rangoon Central Gaol, located on Commissioner's Road (now Bogyoke Aung San Road) near Downtown Yangon. By 1908, both Insein and Rangoon jails each held over 2,000 inm ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rangoon
Yangon, formerly romanized as Rangoon, is the capital of the Yangon Region and the largest city of Myanmar. Yangon was the List of capitals of Myanmar, capital of Myanmar until 2005 and served as such until 2006, when the State Peace and Development Council, military government relocated the administrative functions to the purpose-built capital city of Naypyidaw in north central Myanmar. With over five million people, Yangon is Myanmar's most populous city and its most important commercial centre. Yangon boasts the largest number of colonial-era buildings in Southeast Asia, and has a unique Downtown Yangon, colonial-era urban core that is remarkably intact. The colonial-era commercial core is centered around the Sule Pagoda, which is reputed to be over 2,000 years old. The city is also home to the gilded Shwedagon Pagoda – Myanmar's most sacred and famous Buddhist pagoda. Yangon suffers from deeply inadequate infrastructure, especially compared to other major cities in Sou ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Insein Township
Insein Township (, ) is located in northern Yangon. The township comprises 21 wards, and shares borders with Shwepyitha township in the north, Hlaingthaya township in the west, Mingaladon township in the east and Mayangon township in the south. Insein is home to the Insein Prison, the most notorious prison in the country that houses hundreds of political prisoners. Etymology The word "Insein" means "precious lake" in the Burmese language, and is also a former name of Inya lake. However, the etymology of "Insein" is derived from the Mon language term (), meaning "elephant lake." History Insein was a famous battle site in the Burmese civil war that erupted after the country's independence from the United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ... in Januar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Katha, Myanmar
Katha (, ; , ''Kat Hsa''), sometimes also spelled Kathar, is a town in Sagaing Region, Myanmar, on the west side of the Irrawaddy River on a bluff with an average elevation of . Most of the town is more than above the river. Katha is known for having inspired Kyauktada, the fictional setting of George Orwell's ''Burmese Days''. Location Katha is 12 hours by rail north of Mandalay through the railroad junction town of Naba which is to the west of Katha. A small branch of railway runs east from Naba to Katha. Katha can also be reached by ferries that run on the Irrawaddy River between the upstream town of Bhamo down to Mandalay. There is also direct bus service from Mandalay to Katha, but it is a bumpy ride. Climate Katha has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification ''Aw'') bordering on a humid subtropical climate (Köppen ''Cwa''). Temperatures are very warm to hot throughout the year, with milder winter months (December–February). There is a winter dry s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mawlamyaing
Mawlamyine (also spelled Mawlamyaing; , ; ; , ), formerly Moulmein, is the fourth-largest city in Myanmar (Burma), ''World Gazetteer'' southeast of Yangon and south of Thaton, at the mouth of Thanlwin (Salween) River. Mawlamyine was an ancient city and the first capital of British Burma. The city is currently the capital and largest city of Mon State and the main trading centre and seaport in southeastern Myanmar. Etymology and legend The Mon name which was previously used for Mawlamyine, ''Moulmein'' (; ) means "damaged eye" or "one-eyed man." According to legend, a Mon king had a powerful third eye in the centre of his forehead, able to see what was happening in neighbouring kingdoms. The daughter of one of the neighbouring kings was given in marriage to the three-eyed king and managed to destroy the third eye. The Burmese name "Mawlamyine" is believed to be a corruption of the Mon name. Moulmein was also spelled as ''Maulmain or Moulmain or Maulmein'' in some records o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thanlyin
Thanlyin (; or ; , ; formerly Syriam) is a major port city of Myanmar, located across Bago River from the city of Yangon. Thanlyin comprises 17 quarters. It surrounding Thanlyin Township is home to the largest port in the country, Thilawa port, as well as the Thilawa Special Economic Zone and various prominent universities. History Thanlyin became a prominent port city in during the Hanthawaddy Kingdom when the port of Bago became silted in the 15th century. In 1599, the city was conquered by the Kingdom of Mrauk U's Portuguese mercenaries. The leader of the mercenaries Filipe de Brito e Nicotewas made governor of the city. However, in 1603, De Brito declared independence and. after defeating the invading Arakanese navy in 1604 and 1605, successfully established Portuguese rule over Syriam (or Sirião in Portuguese) under the Portuguese viceroy of Goa. 10 years later, Anaukpetlun of the restored Taungoo Dynasty retook the city, and executed de Brito by impalement. Thanl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
