KEEP THE ASPIDISTRA FLYING

Orwell regarded this early autobiographical work as embarrassingly self-involved, but he didn't give himself enough credit. It nonetheless offers the pleasures of his keen observation and sardonic wit. Kitchen, too, performs a neat trick. He manages to keep Orwell's self-loathing hero, Gordon Comstack, just this side of sympathetic, not a small accomplishment for such an exasperating character. Gordon, a dreadful, deservedly unsuccessful poet, purposely keeps himself in penury while simultaneously blaming his poverty for his lack of recognition and romantic happiness. With his expert timing and delivery, Kitchen enables us to enjoy Gordon on two levels. We can be appalled by his acerbic and wrong-headed perceptions while also finding him an amusing commentator on English culture before WWII. M.O. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/MAR 99]