The Collected Essays, Journalism, and Letters of George Orwell
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- 5.0 de 5 estrellasCompra verificadaOutstanding Orwell... Part 1. with overviewCalificado en Estados Unidos el 26 de agosto de 2009Vol.1 In an Age Like This 1920-1940. This book is the first part of a four volume series which includes letters, essays, book reviews and journals. This series is a good overview of Orwell's thought life and should be read before any systematic review of his... Ver másVol.1 In an Age Like This 1920-1940.
This book is the first part of a four volume series which includes letters, essays, book reviews and journals. This series is a good overview of Orwell's thought life and should be read before any systematic review of his works. They were edited by Orwell's last wife Sonia(reputed to be a gold digger by some)and include a good chronological appendix. The book is better edited than many essay collections of Orwell's works in that it has a detailed appendix giving some historical context to this collection of journals, book reviews, essays and letters.
Prefaced sections would have made the collection more readable to those not familar with the historical context of the writings. Orwell's letters show the compassion he often did not expressed in his writings. They always show concern and restraint in his professional and personal dealings.There are alot of letters to his early mentor Eleanor Jaques.
One letter in particular to his first publisher with whom he had serious legal problems shows no hint of resentment only kindness. Is is possible that we can know more about a man's personal life from his daily habits and expressions than from any professed ideology?
The collection of essays in this volume show us the forgotten legacy of Orwell as a descriptive writer that should have surpassed his mediocre novels. The Orwell of Depression era England seems more relevant today than the Cold War era Orwell of "1984" and "Animal Farm". The essays provide rich background material for those who wish to analyze Orwell's books. Source material for "Homage to Catalona" can be found in the essay "Spilling the Spanish Beans". An essay on common lodging houses tells us about the squalor of working class life in the coal districts...source material for "The Road to Wigan Pier". An essay about hanging tells us about the brutality of colonialism, later written about in Orwell's novel about Burma, "Burmese Days."
Some essays on societal issues show a disturbing lack of insight that I have noticed in some of Orwell's writings. "My Country Right or Left" written in August 1940, talks about a future revolutionary England that seemingly can not ever come into being. Orwell tells us it was an everyday reality to feel patriotism towards Chamberlain and for the future society that is to emerge. Shortly later, Orwell tells us about the red militas " billeted at the Ritz" and London gutters filled with blood. Orwell in the same paragraph tells us that... Only revolution can save England...but now that the revolution has started, and it may proceed quite quickly if only we can keep Hitler out. Was Orwell's "revolution" the election of Winston Churchill? In another essay, not in this book, Orwell talks about an emerging technocracy that would replace the peerage class system with a post war technical elite springing from the old working class...young Bomber Command pilots who will form a new elite and vote in the welfare state. This second revolution is not the first type nor is it in line with orthodox Communist thought nor is it even logical to posit two things as being true at once. Orwell described himself as a democratic socialist "as far as I understand what that means," yet did his rejection of dialectical materialism include a rejection of intellectual depth?
The reader will find the books reviews interesting as source material for future reading as well as an interesting time capsule into long forgotten controversies and popular culture. One review on a book written by the Dutchess of Atholl "Searchlight on Spain" reminds us of the odd radicalism of the english ruling class during the Depression. The duchess was pro-Soviet. Interestingly, the Mitford family produced the pro-Nazi Unity, who died during the Depression, and the pro-Red Jessica who haunted Cold War society. The reviews on Henry Miller selections seem to show an adversion to surreal and abstract subject matter. Orwell's essay on Dali, in another book, dismisses Dali as a crank and seems to avoid any detailed discussion of surrealism- a popular subject in the 1930's. A book review on Sarte in another collection avoids a discussion of existentialism. Orwell claimed simply that he did not understand Sarte. Was Orwell revealing a tendency towards mental sloth?
A journal Orwell kept of his Road to Wigan Pier experiences should be read before reading the book as an interesting travel journal on hop picking during the Depression. The hop picking journal appears in "The Clergyman's Daughter". This collection reveals much about a man who influenced the century he lived in, and a time that had a profound impact on ours.
Is it posible to know more about somebody from his small personal habits and viewpoints than any professed ideology? The material in these four collections contain many of the source material for Orwell's novels and reveal his lost genius as a gifted journalist and essayist. The Orwell of "1984" and "Animal Farm" fame seems strangely dated by the end of the Cold War; the Orwell in this collection strangely relevant by the current economic crisis. More historical footnotes would have been welcome in this collection.
Readers will find the hop picking episode in "A Clergyman's Daughter" outlined in journal format. The Spike...part of a system of temporary soup kitchens that dotted England. The Clink...a Depression era drunk tank which was featured in "Keep The Aspridistra Flying" as was the essay Bookshop Memories. The journal describing the grim details of coal miners lives and the economic benefit of coal mining was later incorporated into "The Road to Wigan Pier." In "Spilling the Spanish Beans" a brief essay on the crazy quilt of spanish politics almost midway into the Spanish Civil War gives insight into "Homage to Catalonia". Orwell on occassion in his writings reveals a dark sense of humor. I remember his refering to a Spike inmate as "a typical YMCA coco drunkard."
These richly detailed essays made otherwise weak novels interesting to read and journalism books like "Homage to Catalonia" masterpieces.
Orwell was always willing to live with his causes. Orwell's empathy with the outcasts of civilization belied a deep compassion which he could never communicate in his writings, but which his life bore stark testimony. Near the end...his body wracked by TB...he adopted a small boy, Richard, whom he never gave up. Sonia never took any interest in Richard's life after Orwell's death. The letters in this book show the deep concern and consideration Orwell showed for others.
The book reviews in this volume are rich time capsules of life and controversy in Depression era England. Orwell's review of "Searchlight on Spain" by the Dutchess of Atholl reminds me of the strange radicalism of the ruling class in England which Jessica Mitford later showed as an ardent Communist,and her sister Unity showed as a Nazi.
Some book reviews show a disturbing superficiality which marks Orwell's tackling of abstract subjects. An Authur Miller book "Black Spring" seems to be dismissed because it represents surrealism as did an essay in another book on Dali. Sarte was also dismissed quickly in a latter collection because Orwell confessed little understanding about existentialism. Was Orwell being a little too honest about himself?
An essay " My Country Right or Left" seems to expouse a Socialism without any dialetic or reason to come into being:
Only revolution can save England, that has been obvious for years, but now that revolution has started, it may proceed quite quickly if only if we can keep Hitler out.
That was written in August 1940. What revolution was Orwell talking about? The election of Churchill? Orwell quickly expoused loyalty to Chamberlain and loyalty to future revolutionary England as an "everyday phenomenon." This radical new type of reactionary revolution required more systematic thought than Orwell ever gave to it. Orwell's rejection of dialectic materialism in favor of democratic socialism "as far as I understand what that means" deserved more explaination to avoid a credibility gap which Orwell never overcame.
Orwell may have been refering to a class upheaval created by the technological demands of war, but many passages are not clear on this point. One example cited was young Bomber Command pilots becoming part of a post war technocracy that would alter the old peerage class system, but this is not the revolution of "red militas billeted at the Ritz" or the bloody London gutters Orwell sometimes refers to. Was Orwell's rift with Communism a function of his own lack of understanding as much as a principled stand?
This collection gives us much to ponder about a time that shaped the later part of the century Orwell lived in and one he helped define.
Vol.2 My Country Right or Left 1940-1943.
The war time diaries dating from May 1940 to November 1942 are my most treasured readings in this series. They are difficult to put down. The massacre at Lidice was actually announced to the english by german wireless! The general public in England seemed fairly non-involved as to the daily progress of the War.
Orwell's review of Mein Kampf was interesting in that it shows a subdued admiration of Hilter an his appeal to the german people to suffer rather than the hedonism that Capitalism and Socialism offered the english. Interesting perspective.
"The Lion and the Unicorn" had the same weakness that "My Country Right or Left" had above. The essays Orwell wrote on sociological issues suffer from a strange myopia. The revolution he predicted for England seems to exist inside a theorectical vacuum. Orwell's essays on language have an endearing giant quality to them typlified in "Literature and Totalitarianism"...the begining of 1984 newspeak...perhaps.
The letter to the editor of Time and Tide shows Orwell the Home Guard leader giving detailed military advice on the defense of England. Perhaps he was reverting to the old police days in Burma?
Vol.3 As I Please 1943-1945.
This volume speaks volumes for Orwell.
One letter to Gelb Stuve in this book stands out. Mr. Stuve had given Orwell a large set of russian books. Orwell confessed almost no knowlege of russian literature, but thanked him for a copy of "We.""We" is about a future dystopian state and became the model for "1984."
Orwell often reviewed obscure works which is a blessing to those who are looking for hard to find authors. A review of the macabre poetry of W.H. Davies is interesting simply because I have never heard of him until reading Orwell.
The greatest collection in this book is by far the old Op-Ed page written in the Tribune "As I Please." The page was broken into two to three parts each covering a seperate subject. This edition excluded some of these sections without any notations as to what was excluded...too bad. The selections include debates with pacifists, comments on the introduction of the first V2 rockets to London..." my house is still rocking", romance ads in english newspapers. These articles were enjoyed by readers every morning over a nice cup of tea. Buying roses at Woolworth's...the pictures never matched the color that bloomed...techniques of beer pouring in pubs. A treasure of english wartime pop culture.
The essays are, likewise, precious the popular art of tea making in a clay pot with leaves...never use bags. The disappearence of genuine english food...thus the humor associated with english cooking. The characteristics of an ideal pub...it does not exist anywhere.
One essay "The English People" suffers the simplicity problem that characterizes his sociological essays, but it is still good reading.
I am reading this book for enjoyment along with a strong cup of tea. Why don't you do the same?
I used a tea bag.
Vol.4 In Front of Your Nose 1945-1950.
The last book in this four part series. Perhaps the saddest. Orwell was nearing the end of his days as a victim of TB. Orwell had adopted a small boy Richard and refused to give him back for adoption depite the rigors of TB. The selection shows the Cold War Orwell of "Animal Farm" and "1984" in essays, book reviews and letters.
One essay on James Burnham is interesting because of Burnham's geopolitical views which were seen to be totaliarian and yet transfered him into the mainstream conservative movement in america as an assistant editor of The National Review. Orwell continued his dogged resistence to the Soviet Union against many on the Left who continued to see Communism as a progressive force because it was anti-capitalist.
There are entertaining essays and letters here with no shortage of chatty "As I Please" Op-Ed pages. An entertaining essay on the toad population in Orwell's garden was a repite from some of the ideological stuff that gets a bit thick. "The Cost of Paper" gives us insights into the dislocations caused by the War as late as 1946.
Orwell's review of Churchill's book "Their Finest Hour" is his last review and corresponds very closely with the war diaries he wrote(mentioned above). The review ends with 1940 and establishes Orwell in the odd position of a leftist who was a Churchill apologist or at least considered him a loveable figurehead made necessary by war.
The letters to Cecia Kirwan are particulary interesting because it was revealed years later that she was an intelligence operative who collected data on media figures thought to be Soviet agents. Orwell's letters indicate persistent atempts to invite her to Jura after she sent him a bottle of brandy. Recently released files show that Orwell gave the government information on friends who had possible links to the Soviet Union. Did Ms. Kirwan romance Orwell for informationn despite the large age diffrence between them?
The last entries are quite sad and come from a journal kept on his death bed. The last entry dated 17 April 1949 states " At 50, everyone has the face he deserves."
Well worth the time to read. I hope I don't sound trite.
Vol.1 In an Age Like This 1920-1940.
This book is the first part of a four volume series which includes letters, essays, book reviews and journals. This series is a good overview of Orwell's thought life and should be read before any systematic review of his works. They were edited by Orwell's last wife Sonia(reputed to be a gold digger by some)and include a good chronological appendix. The book is better edited than many essay collections of Orwell's works in that it has a detailed appendix giving some historical context to this collection of journals, book reviews, essays and letters.
Prefaced sections would have made the collection more readable to those not familar with the historical context of the writings. Orwell's letters show the compassion he often did not expressed in his writings. They always show concern and restraint in his professional and personal dealings.There are alot of letters to his early mentor Eleanor Jaques.
One letter in particular to his first publisher with whom he had serious legal problems shows no hint of resentment only kindness. Is is possible that we can know more about a man's personal life from his daily habits and expressions than from any professed ideology?
The collection of essays in this volume show us the forgotten legacy of Orwell as a descriptive writer that should have surpassed his mediocre novels. The Orwell of Depression era England seems more relevant today than the Cold War era Orwell of "1984" and "Animal Farm". The essays provide rich background material for those who wish to analyze Orwell's books. Source material for "Homage to Catalona" can be found in the essay "Spilling the Spanish Beans". An essay on common lodging houses tells us about the squalor of working class life in the coal districts...source material for "The Road to Wigan Pier". An essay about hanging tells us about the brutality of colonialism, later written about in Orwell's novel about Burma, "Burmese Days."
Some essays on societal issues show a disturbing lack of insight that I have noticed in some of Orwell's writings. "My Country Right or Left" written in August 1940, talks about a future revolutionary England that seemingly can not ever come into being. Orwell tells us it was an everyday reality to feel patriotism towards Chamberlain and for the future society that is to emerge. Shortly later, Orwell tells us about the red militas " billeted at the Ritz" and London gutters filled with blood. Orwell in the same paragraph tells us that... Only revolution can save England...but now that the revolution has started, and it may proceed quite quickly if only we can keep Hitler out. Was Orwell's "revolution" the election of Winston Churchill? In another essay, not in this book, Orwell talks about an emerging technocracy that would replace the peerage class system with a post war technical elite springing from the old working class...young Bomber Command pilots who will form a new elite and vote in the welfare state. This second revolution is not the first type nor is it in line with orthodox Communist thought nor is it even logical to posit two things as being true at once. Orwell described himself as a democratic socialist "as far as I understand what that means," yet did his rejection of dialectical materialism include a rejection of intellectual depth?
The reader will find the books reviews interesting as source material for future reading as well as an interesting time capsule into long forgotten controversies and popular culture. One review on a book written by the Dutchess of Atholl "Searchlight on Spain" reminds us of the odd radicalism of the english ruling class during the Depression. The duchess was pro-Soviet. Interestingly, the Mitford family produced the pro-Nazi Unity, who died during the Depression, and the pro-Red Jessica who haunted Cold War society. The reviews on Henry Miller selections seem to show an adversion to surreal and abstract subject matter. Orwell's essay on Dali, in another book, dismisses Dali as a crank and seems to avoid any detailed discussion of surrealism- a popular subject in the 1930's. A book review on Sarte in another collection avoids a discussion of existentialism. Orwell claimed simply that he did not understand Sarte. Was Orwell revealing a tendency towards mental sloth?
A journal Orwell kept of his Road to Wigan Pier experiences should be read before reading the book as an interesting travel journal on hop picking during the Depression. The hop picking journal appears in "The Clergyman's Daughter". This collection reveals much about a man who influenced the century he lived in, and a time that had a profound impact on ours.
Is it posible to know more about somebody from his small personal habits and viewpoints than any professed ideology? The material in these four collections contain many of the source material for Orwell's novels and reveal his lost genius as a gifted journalist and essayist. The Orwell of "1984" and "Animal Farm" fame seems strangely dated by the end of the Cold War; the Orwell in this collection strangely relevant by the current economic crisis. More historical footnotes would have been welcome in this collection.
Readers will find the hop picking episode in "A Clergyman's Daughter" outlined in journal format. The Spike...part of a system of temporary soup kitchens that dotted England. The Clink...a Depression era drunk tank which was featured in "Keep The Aspridistra Flying" as was the essay Bookshop Memories. The journal describing the grim details of coal miners lives and the economic benefit of coal mining was later incorporated into "The Road to Wigan Pier." In "Spilling the Spanish Beans" a brief essay on the crazy quilt of spanish politics almost midway into the Spanish Civil War gives insight into "Homage to Catalonia". Orwell on occassion in his writings reveals a dark sense of humor. I remember his refering to a Spike inmate as "a typical YMCA coco drunkard."
These richly detailed essays made otherwise weak novels interesting to read and journalism books like "Homage to Catalonia" masterpieces.
Orwell was always willing to live with his causes. Orwell's empathy with the outcasts of civilization belied a deep compassion which he could never communicate in his writings, but which his life bore stark testimony. Near the end...his body wracked by TB...he adopted a small boy, Richard, whom he never gave up. Sonia never took any interest in Richard's life after Orwell's death. The letters in this book show the deep concern and consideration Orwell showed for others.
The book reviews in this volume are rich time capsules of life and controversy in Depression era England. Orwell's review of "Searchlight on Spain" by the Dutchess of Atholl reminds me of the strange radicalism of the ruling class in England which Jessica Mitford later showed as an ardent Communist,and her sister Unity showed as a Nazi.
Some book reviews show a disturbing superficiality which marks Orwell's tackling of abstract subjects. An Authur Miller book "Black Spring" seems to be dismissed because it represents surrealism as did an essay in another book on Dali. Sarte was also dismissed quickly in a latter collection because Orwell confessed little understanding about existentialism. Was Orwell being a little too honest about himself?
An essay " My Country Right or Left" seems to expouse a Socialism without any dialetic or reason to come into being:
Only revolution can save England, that has been obvious for years, but now that revolution has started, it may proceed quite quickly if only if we can keep Hitler out.
That was written in August 1940. What revolution was Orwell talking about? The election of Churchill? Orwell quickly expoused loyalty to Chamberlain and loyalty to future revolutionary England as an "everyday phenomenon." This radical new type of reactionary revolution required more systematic thought than Orwell ever gave to it. Orwell's rejection of dialectic materialism in favor of democratic socialism "as far as I understand what that means" deserved more explaination to avoid a credibility gap which Orwell never overcame.
Orwell may have been refering to a class upheaval created by the technological demands of war, but many passages are not clear on this point. One example cited was young Bomber Command pilots becoming part of a post war technocracy that would alter the old peerage class system, but this is not the revolution of "red militas billeted at the Ritz" or the bloody London gutters Orwell sometimes refers to. Was Orwell's rift with Communism a function of his own lack of understanding as much as a principled stand?
This collection gives us much to ponder about a time that shaped the later part of the century Orwell lived in and one he helped define.
Vol.2 My Country Right or Left 1940-1943.
The war time diaries dating from May 1940 to November 1942 are my most treasured readings in this series. They are difficult to put down. The massacre at Lidice was actually announced to the english by german wireless! The general public in England seemed fairly non-involved as to the daily progress of the War.
Orwell's review of Mein Kampf was interesting in that it shows a subdued admiration of Hilter an his appeal to the german people to suffer rather than the hedonism that Capitalism and Socialism offered the english. Interesting perspective.
"The Lion and the Unicorn" had the same weakness that "My Country Right or Left" had above. The essays Orwell wrote on sociological issues suffer from a strange myopia. The revolution he predicted for England seems to exist inside a theorectical vacuum. Orwell's essays on language have an endearing giant quality to them typlified in "Literature and Totalitarianism"...the begining of 1984 newspeak...perhaps.
The letter to the editor of Time and Tide shows Orwell the Home Guard leader giving detailed military advice on the defense of England. Perhaps he was reverting to the old police days in Burma?
Vol.3 As I Please 1943-1945.
This volume speaks volumes for Orwell.
One letter to Gelb Stuve in this book stands out. Mr. Stuve had given Orwell a large set of russian books. Orwell confessed almost no knowlege of russian literature, but thanked him for a copy of "We.""We" is about a future dystopian state and became the model for "1984."
Orwell often reviewed obscure works which is a blessing to those who are looking for hard to find authors. A review of the macabre poetry of W.H. Davies is interesting simply because I have never heard of him until reading Orwell.
The greatest collection in this book is by far the old Op-Ed page written in the Tribune "As I Please." The page was broken into two to three parts each covering a seperate subject. This edition excluded some of these sections without any notations as to what was excluded...too bad. The selections include debates with pacifists, comments on the introduction of the first V2 rockets to London..." my house is still rocking", romance ads in english newspapers. These articles were enjoyed by readers every morning over a nice cup of tea. Buying roses at Woolworth's...the pictures never matched the color that bloomed...techniques of beer pouring in pubs. A treasure of english wartime pop culture.
The essays are, likewise, precious the popular art of tea making in a clay pot with leaves...never use bags. The disappearence of genuine english food...thus the humor associated with english cooking. The characteristics of an ideal pub...it does not exist anywhere.
One essay "The English People" suffers the simplicity problem that characterizes his sociological essays, but it is still good reading.
I am reading this book for enjoyment along with a strong cup of tea. Why don't you do the same?
I used a tea bag.
Vol.4 In Front of Your Nose 1945-1950.
The last book in this four part series. Perhaps the saddest. Orwell was nearing the end of his days as a victim of TB. Orwell had adopted a small boy Richard and refused to give him back for adoption depite the rigors of TB. The selection shows the Cold War Orwell of "Animal Farm" and "1984" in essays, book reviews and letters.
One essay on James Burnham is interesting because of Burnham's geopolitical views which were seen to be totaliarian and yet transfered him into the mainstream conservative movement in america as an assistant editor of The National Review. Orwell continued his dogged resistence to the Soviet Union against many on the Left who continued to see Communism as a progressive force because it was anti-capitalist.
There are entertaining essays and letters here with no shortage of chatty "As I Please" Op-Ed pages. An entertaining essay on the toad population in Orwell's garden was a repite from some of the ideological stuff that gets a bit thick. "The Cost of Paper" gives us insights into the dislocations caused by the War as late as 1946.
Orwell's review of Churchill's book "Their Finest Hour" is his last review and corresponds very closely with the war diaries he wrote(mentioned above). The review ends with 1940 and establishes Orwell in the odd position of a leftist who was a Churchill apologist or at least considered him a loveable figurehead made necessary by war.
The letters to Cecia Kirwan are particulary interesting because it was revealed years later that she was an intelligence operative who collected data on media figures thought to be Soviet agents. Orwell's letters indicate persistent atempts to invite her to Jura after she sent him a bottle of brandy. Recently released files show that Orwell gave the government information on friends who had possible links to the Soviet Union. Did Ms. Kirwan romance Orwell for informationn despite the large age diffrence between them?
The last entries are quite sad and come from a journal kept on his death bed. The last entry dated 17 April 1949 states " At 50, everyone has the face he deserves."
Well worth the time to read. I hope I don't sound trite.
- 5.0 de 5 estrellasCompra verificadaInside the Mind of the 20th CenturyCalificado en Estados Unidos el 30 de mayo de 2002I'm not going to review all four volumes of this collection separately; what I say below applies to them all. There are lots of reasons to read Orwell's letter, essays and journalism: 1. He's a great writer. It's a pleasure to read him, just for... Ver másI'm not going to review all four volumes of this collection separately; what I say below applies to them all.
There are lots of reasons to read Orwell's letter, essays and journalism:
1. He's a great writer. It's a pleasure to read him, just for entertainment value. There's a little piece of doggerel from Orwell's school days that he quotes several times that is now stuck in my head:
The rain it raineth every day
Upon the just and the unjust fella
But more upon the just because
The unjust has the just's umbrella
I don't know why that sticks with me, but it's a great illustration of Orwell's use of solid, colloquial and even humorous English.
Moreover, in addition to providing wonderful model prose he occasionally writes essays about writing and language (the use of "Basic English", oratorical versus conversational English, what drives a writer, the totalitarian perversion of word meanings, etc.), which are insightful and interesting.
2. If you're interested in the Second World War (or for that matter, the Spanish Civil War), Orwell's writings amount to a sort of diary, a primary document. Even his book reviews almost inevitably contain some reference to the political and historical scene.
3. Orwell loved socialism (yes, the man who write _1984_ was a democratic socialist), but he loved freedom more. His simultaneous battle for socialism and against totalitarianism (i.e., the Soviet Union) is engaging, even -- or maybe particularly -- where he drops the ball.
...
I think Orwell's heart was in the right place -- he had seen close up (and written a good deal about) the suffering of the poor. Like many people who have their hearts in the right place, he jumped immediately to the idea that redistribution of private property and collective ownership of the means of production were the only way forward.
On the other hand, he was a writer and a man of ideas, a person who greatly prized personal freedom. His essays give an intriguing glimpse into the battle raging inside him between collectivism and individual liberty.
I'm not going to review all four volumes of this collection separately; what I say below applies to them all.
There are lots of reasons to read Orwell's letter, essays and journalism:
1. He's a great writer. It's a pleasure to read him, just for entertainment value. There's a little piece of doggerel from Orwell's school days that he quotes several times that is now stuck in my head:
The rain it raineth every day
Upon the just and the unjust fella
But more upon the just because
The unjust has the just's umbrella
I don't know why that sticks with me, but it's a great illustration of Orwell's use of solid, colloquial and even humorous English.
Moreover, in addition to providing wonderful model prose he occasionally writes essays about writing and language (the use of "Basic English", oratorical versus conversational English, what drives a writer, the totalitarian perversion of word meanings, etc.), which are insightful and interesting.
2. If you're interested in the Second World War (or for that matter, the Spanish Civil War), Orwell's writings amount to a sort of diary, a primary document. Even his book reviews almost inevitably contain some reference to the political and historical scene.
3. Orwell loved socialism (yes, the man who write _1984_ was a democratic socialist), but he loved freedom more. His simultaneous battle for socialism and against totalitarianism (i.e., the Soviet Union) is engaging, even -- or maybe particularly -- where he drops the ball.
...
I think Orwell's heart was in the right place -- he had seen close up (and written a good deal about) the suffering of the poor. Like many people who have their hearts in the right place, he jumped immediately to the idea that redistribution of private property and collective ownership of the means of production were the only way forward.
On the other hand, he was a writer and a man of ideas, a person who greatly prized personal freedom. His essays give an intriguing glimpse into the battle raging inside him between collectivism and individual liberty.
- 5.0 de 5 estrellasCompra verificadaPrescient, beautiful essays... butCalificado en Estados Unidos el 6 de marzo de 2021It's Orwell's writing, so of course the essays are strikingly delightful (as one would expect). BUT, just to comment on the aesthetics of the book -- the font of the book is a true eyesore! These ALL BOLD tightly crammed and ever-so-slightly uneven... Ver másIt's Orwell's writing, so of course the essays are strikingly delightful (as one would expect).
BUT, just to comment on the aesthetics of the book -- the font of the book is a true eyesore! These ALL BOLD tightly crammed and ever-so-slightly uneven alphabets on pages! It's a mild bummer every time I open the book because I cannot help think Orwell's essays deserve at least a normal Times New Roman or Georgia. Perhaps fellow bibliophiles can agree that presentation matters for books.
Still, it's nice that each essay is numbered and organized chronologically, separated into years. And I'll always prefer to read Orwell's essays in bloated alphabets than not read them at all. So yeah, this four-volume set is worth the purchase.
It's Orwell's writing, so of course the essays are strikingly delightful (as one would expect).
BUT, just to comment on the aesthetics of the book -- the font of the book is a true eyesore! These ALL BOLD tightly crammed and ever-so-slightly uneven alphabets on pages! It's a mild bummer every time I open the book because I cannot help think Orwell's essays deserve at least a normal Times New Roman or Georgia. Perhaps fellow bibliophiles can agree that presentation matters for books.
Still, it's nice that each essay is numbered and organized chronologically, separated into years. And I'll always prefer to read Orwell's essays in bloated alphabets than not read them at all. So yeah, this four-volume set is worth the purchase.
- 5.0 de 5 estrellasCompra verificadaDepth and breadth of his thinkingCalificado en Estados Unidos el 5 de febrero de 2024There is much more on this man on display in this volume than his two famous novels ANIMAL FARM and 1984.
There is much more on this man on display in this volume than his two famous novels ANIMAL FARM and 1984.
- 4.0 de 5 estrellasCompra verificadaA family with the wrong members in controlCalificado en Estados Unidos el 3 de enero de 2008This is my first volume of essays, articles and letters by Blair/Orwell, which I read thanks to Jim Egolf's recent review here. The man contradicts himself quite a bit, but I do not regret the time spent. Who wants to get bored by people that one always agrees... Ver másThis is my first volume of essays, articles and letters by Blair/Orwell, which I read thanks to Jim Egolf's recent review here. The man contradicts himself quite a bit, but I do not regret the time spent. Who wants to get bored by people that one always agrees with?
The main theme of the book, due to the time of the sample, is England in war with totalitarianism/fascism/nazism. Though Orwell was in his heart a leftist, he had enough insight from own experience to understand the nature of totalitarianism, he was a dedicated anti-Stalinist, and he staid away from party politics.
And yet: his long essay 'The Lion and the Unicorn', one of the core texts of this book, gives a political vision, that puzzles me. He displays a surprising naivete about the strength of economic planning in socialism. Of course, we have the benefit of hindsight, we know that a central planning bureaucracy can be the right approach for a short term effort, like for a war, but will be hopelessly lost in inefficiencies in 'normal' times. Orwell was deeply convinced that state capitalism or socialism was the future, there would be no return after the war.
I have decided to ignore his political recipes, but to enjoy his social analyses: England is a rich man's paradise, but the ruling class is too stupid to run the country.
One of his main contributions to our understanding of the confict of the time: his juxtaposition of the ideology of hedonism (which nearly led the West into the abyss) against the ideology of social sacrifice, which helped the Nazis to succeed, luckily only temporarily.
I wonder if he fully understood the real antagonism of Hitler to the West or if he got deceived by the temporary diversion of the pact with Stalin. (I notice when I browse the reviews and comments in this neighborhood that there is a certain willingness to say, the West should have gone with Hitler against the Soviets. Oh my, what a misunderstanding.) Probably he did. In a nice remark after the German attack on Russia he says, had this happened before the Hitler-Stalin pact, there was a chance of serious political disturbance in Britain, because the ruling class might have wanted to join the attack on Germany's side.
My favorite text in the collection is the essay on H.G.Wells' inability to understand Hitler. Wells was the man who envisaged scientific progress against reactionary societies earlier in the century. He was unable to understand that Hitler's essentially irrational and superstitious ideology was capable of an efficient alliance with the other side of science.
This is my first volume of essays, articles and letters by Blair/Orwell, which I read thanks to Jim Egolf's recent review here. The man contradicts himself quite a bit, but I do not regret the time spent. Who wants to get bored by people that one always agrees with?
The main theme of the book, due to the time of the sample, is England in war with totalitarianism/fascism/nazism. Though Orwell was in his heart a leftist, he had enough insight from own experience to understand the nature of totalitarianism, he was a dedicated anti-Stalinist, and he staid away from party politics.
And yet: his long essay 'The Lion and the Unicorn', one of the core texts of this book, gives a political vision, that puzzles me. He displays a surprising naivete about the strength of economic planning in socialism. Of course, we have the benefit of hindsight, we know that a central planning bureaucracy can be the right approach for a short term effort, like for a war, but will be hopelessly lost in inefficiencies in 'normal' times. Orwell was deeply convinced that state capitalism or socialism was the future, there would be no return after the war.
I have decided to ignore his political recipes, but to enjoy his social analyses: England is a rich man's paradise, but the ruling class is too stupid to run the country.
One of his main contributions to our understanding of the confict of the time: his juxtaposition of the ideology of hedonism (which nearly led the West into the abyss) against the ideology of social sacrifice, which helped the Nazis to succeed, luckily only temporarily.
I wonder if he fully understood the real antagonism of Hitler to the West or if he got deceived by the temporary diversion of the pact with Stalin. (I notice when I browse the reviews and comments in this neighborhood that there is a certain willingness to say, the West should have gone with Hitler against the Soviets. Oh my, what a misunderstanding.) Probably he did. In a nice remark after the German attack on Russia he says, had this happened before the Hitler-Stalin pact, there was a chance of serious political disturbance in Britain, because the ruling class might have wanted to join the attack on Germany's side.
My favorite text in the collection is the essay on H.G.Wells' inability to understand Hitler. Wells was the man who envisaged scientific progress against reactionary societies earlier in the century. He was unable to understand that Hitler's essentially irrational and superstitious ideology was capable of an efficient alliance with the other side of science.
- 5.0 de 5 estrellasCompra verificadaJust what I expectedCalificado en Estados Unidos el 31 de marzo de 2022This book is mostly a collection of Orwell's letters with several good book reviews and a couple of essays --- all from the 1930's. A good sampling of his work.
This book is mostly a collection of Orwell's letters with several good book reviews and a couple of essays --- all from the 1930's. A good sampling of his work.
- 5.0 de 5 estrellasCompra verificadaExcellent.Calificado en Estados Unidos el 16 de octubre de 2021Meet the most honest author you could read.
Meet the most honest author you could read.
- 5.0 de 5 estrellasCompra verificadaFascinating insight into one of the major twentyth century authors.Calificado en Estados Unidos el 31 de agosto de 2021Wide selection of Orwell's views over the years listed.Also some of His day to day activities.
Wide selection of Orwell's views over the years listed.Also some of His day to day activities.
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