The Spike: Orwell talks of his experience at a miserly workhouse. We directly hear from him and the burdens he felt as a writer. Why I Write: This essay is a lovely complement to Orwell’s other works. This week marks seventy years since the prolific author’s death, but his work and attitudes continue to live on, and I am thus proud to present the following recommendations.Ī Hanging: an essay describing the tragedy of the abysmal justice system in Burma, a result of British colonial rule. I shall list, in no particular order, which essays and books I would recommend you read. He unravels his complicated observations into enriching narratives. Orwell’s writing is readable and that is one of the greatest things about it.
Principally, he predicted that technology and economic growth would lead to powerful, oligarchic regimes with concentrated wealth. I once asked myself whether some political leaders used his infamous novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four, as a political bible. After fighting in the Spanish Civil War against fascism, Orwell took on the responsibility of educating his readers from the frontlines.Īs with many dystopian writers, Orwell made predictions that would come true several decades later. These phrases come from his written commentary of the Soviet Union and other totalitarian regimes across Europe. He pioneered a political dictionary of phrases, including ‘Doublethink’, ‘Big Brother’, ‘freedom is slavery’, and ‘all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others’. As a result, Orwell’s books are woven into the fabric of British society. He echoed the oppression of indigenous peoples, often subject to the brutal shortcomings of imperialism. He eagerly wrote about his dreadful experiences, sprinkling his writing with stories of the British Empire, from Marrakech to Burma. The Etonian rebel was an interesting character, for he voluntarily subjected himself to poverty for many years between Paris and London. George Orwell should be declared a modern hero.