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The Cambridge Companion to George Orwell (Cambridge Companions to Literature)

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How interested in Orwell are you? If your interest is merely casual, this book is not for you. If, on the other hand, you consider Orwell the greatest politiacal essayist and satirist of the Twentieth Century, you should read it. Of course, the book should be read after you have read some of Orwell's books and essays and, perhaps a biography.

The Cambridge Companion to George Orwell contains essays by reputable Orwell experts and scholars. These essays discuss Orwell's novels and essays as well as his views on particular subjects. The focus is principally on his political writing and the evolution of his political views. While the writers of this book have different points of view, most agree that Orwell became a socialist in the 1930's and never ceased thereafter to be a socialist. Nevertheless, he was never a Marxist and he often criticized other socialists. It is clear that the view of Orwell, popularized in the United States, as a Socialist who repented is incorrect or, at least, oversimplified.

The book is a surprisingly good read considering the multiple authorship and nature of the series of which it is a part. If you have more than a passing interest in Orwell, this is a must read.