1984 (MCI) (Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations) [Hardcover]

William Golding (Author), George Orwell (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1987 | Series: Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations

First appearing in 1949, the novel 1984 seemed like a nightmarish vision of the future in a totalitarian world. Playing on the public's worst fears about governmental control, different readings saw the former Soviet Union as the object of satire, while others focused on increasingly powerful democratic governments.

The title, George Orwell’s 1984, part of Chelsea House Publishers’ Modern Critical Interpretations series, presents the most important 20th-century criticism on George Orwell’s 1984 through extracts of critical essays by well-known literary critics. This collection of criticism also features a short biography on George Orwell, a chronology of the author’s life, and an introductory essay written by Harold Bloom, Sterling Professor of the Humanities, Yale University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 135 pages
• Publisher: Chelsea House Publications (February 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555460267
• ISBN-13: 978-1555460266
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,477,975 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Six stars for Orwell's 1984, only one star for Harold Bloom, August 21, 2011

By 

Alexander - See all my reviews

This review is from: 1984 (MCI) (Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations) (Hardcover)

Of course, I give five (and six if possible) star to the work of genius - Orwell's 1984. And my review is not about the literary giant who does not need my review. It is about Harold Bloom's preface who pretends he can give "a modern critical interpretations" to 1984.

Keep in mind that Professor Bloom put himself as an author of this book: Amazon says "by Harold Bloom." It is misleading: the should have written "With the preface of Harold Bloom." In fact it is a collection of articles by others with his preface. Unfortunately, Bloom is that kind of literary professor who denies aesthetic value of 1984 (he does the same service to Allan Edgar Poe in another book), while Bloom's own aesthetic compass is nonexistent. You can judge by this short list that the venerated professor cannot be taken seriously as a literary critic. If you love Orwell, do not buy this book, spoiled by the hostile preface. Something is wrong with New England literary critics who had been in the 19 Century hostile to Poe, Mark Twain (even Theodor Roosevelt had noticed the New England's hostility to Poe), and now one of them (Bloom) continues the "noble" tradition to degrade and insult everything really talented. So there is nothing "modern"in Bloom's offensively anti-intellectual, anti-cultural and superficial assault on the great book. Look at Bloom's language even in Amazon description: "Orwell played on people fears." What kind of language is this?" Played? Isn't it an example of a yellow journalistic style? Orwell did not played any games, he was very serious about everything he did in life: he fought in Spain and burnt himself as a writer and prophet. By the way, Mark Twain called Bloom's profession "worthless, and the worst in the world." Mark Twain exaggerated, of course, but if you have ever read Bloom, you understand what Mark Twain meant. Centuries from now, people will read and admire Poe and Orwell, but I am not sure they will remember who "critic Bloom" was... Although who knows, people still remember Herostratus.

1 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars George Orwell is masterful at capturing the truth about comm, March 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: 1984 (MCI) (Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations) (Hardcover)

It was a very good book. I liked it a lot. I will definitly read it again and again and again.