Customer Reviews

1984 (MCI) (Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations)

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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.

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