Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell

This memoir follows the author’s descent into poverty in two great cities, working grueling jobs in Parisian kitchens and living as a tramp on the streets of London. The plot is structured as a series of episodes, revealing the harsh realities of labor, hunger, and social indifference. Orwell blends vivid reportage with moral reflection, critiquing economic inequality and the dehumanization of the poor. Through his direct experience, he exposes a world often hidden from public view. It’s a powerful, unflinching portrait of life at the margins.