Eric Blair (better known as George Orwell, 1903-1950) was an author, journalist, and critic. Though he published numerous works of literature and literary criticism throughout his life, Orwell is largely known for his novel 1984 (and the term "Orwellian").
Life[]
Born in the city of Mohitari in the "Bengal Presidency" (now the province of Bihar) in June of 1903, Blair was educated at Eton College (in which he was taught French by Aldous Huxley, author of Brave New World).
After his education in Eton, Blair worked as an Imperial police officer in the province of Burma (now Myanmar). He hated both the British Empire and the natives of Burma (finding them hostile towards him). After catching dengue fever, Blair resigned from the service to become a full-time writer (though he used this experience for his novel Burmese Days).
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Orwell visited Spain during the Spanish Civil War - initially to serve as a journalist - but later joined the fight against the Fascists. During this time, Orwell also took part in conflicts between Spanish Marxist and Stalinist forces (with these conflicts starting his disdain for Stalin and totalitarianism). Orwell's experiences in Spain were recounted in Homage to Catalonia.
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Orwell died at fourty-seven from tuberculosis in London.
Writing style[]
A democratic socialist, Orwell's early writings (most notably The Road to Wigan Pier) focus on his socialistic views. His later works (most notably Animal Farm and his most famous work, Nineteen Eighty-Four) focus on the fight against totalitarianism.
Along with totalitarianism, Orwell hated "intellectuals".
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Notable works[]
- Animal Farm - a novella that serves as an allegory for Stalin's rise to power.
Novels[]
- Burmese Days - Orwell's debut novel, it serves as "a portrait of the dark side of the British Raj".
- A Clergyman's Daughter - Orwell's most experimental novel, about the titular daughter suffering from an attack of amnesia.
- Keep the Aspidistra Flying - a novel about a man fighting against "worship of the money-god".
- Coming Up for Air - a novel about a man who predicts the Second World War.
- Nineteen Eighty-Four - a novel about the totalitarian society of Oceania.
Nonfiction[]
- Down and Out in Paris and London - a book about poverty in large cities.
- The Road to Wigan Pier - a book about socialism.
- Homage to Catalonia - a book about Orwell's service in the Spanish Civil War.
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Non-fiction works on Orwell[]
- Orwell: The New Life by D.J. Taylor
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Fiction featuring Orwell[]
- Mags L. Halliday's Doctor Who novel History 101 features Orwell during his service in the Spanish Civil War and essentially serves as a homage to Orwell's work.
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See also[]
- H.G. Wells
- Aldous Huxley
Sources[]
- Wikipedia