(I Read) Orwell: The New Life by D.J. Taylor
Folks, if you’re a great admirer of George Orwell’s work and you’re curious how this very man was shaped by life, I highly recommend picking up this biography by D.J. Taylor.
Man had the ability to be eloquent from childhood though he went to Burma and served for the empire as it was the tradition of the Blairs at the time. He became disillusioned and quit after several years; turning to journalism whilst anxious his family would disapprove of it.
After experiencing life in Paris for a short while and then London, he started writing books: memoirs, autobiographies, novels inspired by the hardships of life.
He was a strong proponent of socialism although he recognised the possible dystopian outcomes when governed by socialism.
He could socialise with all sorts of people but preferred the company of some more so than others. I found it remarkable that prior to meeting Eileen – his first missus – he had TWO romantic interests at the same time: Brenda Salkeld and Eleanor Jacques. ‘Tis a great pity we only have Orwell’s side of his exchange with Brenda and Eleanor – none of Brenda’s and Eleanor’s letters to Orwell still exist. We won’t know how they really felt for him.
During the final few years of his life, he terribly loved the tranquility on Jura in the Outer Hebrides but not as much as how he loved his adopted son, Richard. Amidst the suffering from tuberculosis, he managed to produce one of the greatest novels of all time – 1984.
The great writer died a little over 7 months after the publication of 1984.
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
On to the next one AI x