George Orwell [Hardcover]

Gordon Bowker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2003

One of the greatest writers of the 20th century, George Orwell left an enduring mark on our language and culture, with concepts such as "Big Brother", "Room 101", "Newspeak", and "Doublethink". His reputation rests not only on his political shrewdness and his sharp satires ("Animal Farm" and "Nineteen Eighty-Four") but also on his clear writing style and his essays. Gordon Bowker's biography, written to coincide with Orwell's centenary, includes material which brings the writer's life into unfamiliar focus. Bowker writes revealingly about Orwell's family background; the lasting influence of Eton on his work and character; his superstitious streak and youthful flirtation with black magic; and his chaotic and reckless sex life, which included at least one homoerotic relationship. It highlights the strange circumstances of his first marriage and provides evidence of his experiences in Spain and their nightmarish consequences. It also offers a fresh look at his peculiar deathbed marriage to a woman 15 years his junior.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

George Orwell entered the world as Eric Blair, a man whose eventual decision to hide behind a pseudonym created a double life between the private "Blair" and the public "Orwell." So theorizes Bowker in this detailed political and psychological portrait of the British writer whose most famous creation, 1984's "Big Brother," has become nearly synonymous with the inability to hide in modern society. Orwell took the pseudonym upon the 1933 publication of Down and Out in Paris and London, and cemented its use when producing broadcasts to India for the BBC Empire Service during World War II. This work would provide much of the inspiration for 1984's language of control and manipulation: the censorious BBC bureaucracy became "the Ministry of Truth," and the Nazi and Soviet propaganda transmissions the BBC monitored spawned "Newspeak" and "Doublethink." Bowker connects Orwell's experiences to nearly all of his writings, but he also focuses on lesser-known personal details, including frequent respiratory illness (later revealed as Tuberculosis) and the seduction of numerous women. But the side of Orwell that emerges most forcefully here is of the writer with "the kestrel-eye view of political systems" who felt the necessity to "point to the great threat of politics and science devoid of morality" and who related this view to the defining moments of the 20th Century: Communism, Hitler, World War II and the Cold War. While Bowker's book might enthrall only the most dedicated reader, the frequent appearances in today's news of the terms "Big Brother" and "Orwellian" makes his study a relevant read. Photos.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

"This biography is the best [biography] since Orwell's death... In all his complex contradictions, Orwell comes to energetic life." -- Publishers Weekly

“The frequent appearances in today’s news of the terms ‘Big Brother’ and ‘Orwellian’ makes his study a relevant read.” -- Publisher’s Weekly --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Little Brown Hardbacks (a & C) (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316861154
• ISBN-13: 978-0316861151
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,563,096 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enthralling and readable, December 24, 2008

By 

B. OMALLEY (Chicago) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: George Orwell (Paperback)

Bowker is obviously a fan of Orwell's economy of expression and lucid style, as his prose is straight-forward and very readable. This biography is interesting and informative, and reads like a novel not a thesis. Orwell is a very interesting character and perhaps should be credited with having lead an interesting life as much as his biographer is lauded for describing it.

The only criticism I would have of this excellent treatment, would be Bowker's over-reaching attempt to flesh out his theory of repressed homo-erotic inclinations. This suggestion would seem to be based on some very flimsy hearsay evidence.

I highly recommend this to anyone interested in one of the 20th century's greatest social commentators.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Seems to be a fine biography, July 1, 2007

By 

Extollager (Mayville, ND United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: George Orwell (Paperback)

The only other biography of Orwell that I have read is the two-volume Stansky-Abrahams one, which I read when it appeared over 25 years ago. Of course, one gets to know Orwell pretty well if one reads Orwell's own essays, etc. This seems to be a very good biography, though. I particularly want to commend Bowker for writing at this length, rather than writing something twice or thrice the size. Furthermore, there's a sense that the story has been well told, the people and events adequately identified, etc. One feels human interest not only in Orwell but in others, such as his two wives.

Bowker thanks his copy editor by name, and perhaps that person is not to be blamed for a few errors of grammar and spelling (e.g. the same person is both Frances and Francis) that appear.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Orwell, August 27, 2007

By 

F. Kline (LA CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: George Orwell (Paperback)

Outstanding writing and research. By the time you finish the book you probably know Orwell better than his friends, his women and himself. It drags a bit in the middle but it lead me to re-read Down and Out and to order most of his publications.