false 3629475 http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-111x148.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg This essay alone would be worth the cover price, and the dozen other pieces collected here prove that, given the right thinker/writer, today's journalism actually can become tomorrow's literature. "The Art of Donald McGill," ostensibly an appreciation of the jokey, vaguely obscene illustrated postcards beloved of the working classes, uses the lens of popular culture to examine the battle lines and rules of engagement in the war of the sexes, circa 1941. "Politics and the English Language" is a prose working-out of Orwell's perceptions about the slippery relationship of word and thought that becomes a key premise of 1984. "Looking Back on the Spanish War" is as clear-eyed a veteran's memoir of the nature of war as you're likely to find, and Orwell's long ruminations on the wildly popular "good bad" writers Charles Dickens and Rudyard Kipling showcase his singular virtues--searing honesty and independent thinking. From English boarding schools to Gandhi's character to an early appreciation of Henry Miller's Tropic of Cancer, these pieces give an idiosyncratic tour of the first half of the passing century in the company of an articulate and engaged guide. Don't let the idea that Orwell is an "important" writer put you off reading him. He's really too good, and too human, to miss. --Joyce Thompson

]]> 9640 16 2341551 book 1954 A Collection of Essays total:837|5:401|4:320|3:100|2:15|1:1| 837 3616 1308 80 3706 3.88 404415 14072 6065420 300186 9639 0375415033 9780375415036 15 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166031260m/9639.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166031260s/9639.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9639.Essays 4.47 140
Although best known as the author of Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-four, George Orwell left an even more lastingly significant achievement in his voluminous essays, which dealt with all the great social, political, and literary questions of the day and exemplified an incisive prose style that is still universally admired. Included among the more than 240 essays in this volume are Orwell’s famous discussion of pacifism, “My Country Right or Left”; his scathingly complicated views on the dirty work of imperialism in “Shooting an Elephant”; and his very firm opinion on how to make “A Nice Cup of Tea.”

In his essays, Orwell elevated political writing to the level of art, and his motivating ideas–his desire for social justice, his belief in universal freedom and equality, and his concern for truth in language–are as enduringly relevant now, a hundred years after his birth, as ever.]]> 1954 5 1 false Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1986 Tue Sep 11 16:39:14 -0700 2007 Wed Sep 12 06:01:59 -0700 2007 more...]]> 4997477 279894 625164 0141183063 9780141183060 2 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1176425245m/625164.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1176425245s/625164.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/625164.Essays 4.46 13 My Country Right or Left, Decline of the English Murder, Shooting an Elephant and A Hanging.

With great originality and wit Orwell unfolds his views on subjects ranging from the moral enormity of Jonathan Swift’s strange genius and a revaluation of Charles Dickens to the nature of Socialism, a comic yet profound discussion of naughty sea-side picture postcards and a spirited defence of English cooking. Displaying an almost unrivalled mastery of English plain prose style, Orwell’s essays challenge, move and entertain.]]> 1954 5 1 false Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Thu Aug 23 08:24:07 -0700 2007 Sun Sep 09 13:08:42 -0700 2007 Subjects illuminated include : the end of colonialism, British politics, World War 2, British people and class, the British inter-war intelligentsia, and more.
The essays are each a learning experience...more...]]> 36641877 166376 9640 0156186004 9780156186001 57 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374m/9640.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374s/9640.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9640.A_Collection_of_Essays 4.30 664 </DIV>]]> 1954 5 2 false Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Fri Oct 31 13:16:58 -0700 2008 Sat Nov 01 17:25:50 -0700 2008 more...]]> 8785455 139251 9640 0156186004 9780156186001 57 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374m/9640.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374s/9640.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9640.A_Collection_of_Essays 4.32 837 </DIV>]]> 1954 5 2 false Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Wed Nov 07 05:52:40 -0800 2007 Thu Nov 08 07:39:17 -0800 2007
Seriously though, his writing makes me want to...more...]]> 25856600 225879 9640 0156186004 9780156186001 57 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374m/9640.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374s/9640.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9640.A_Collection_of_Essays 4.32 837 </DIV>]]> 1954 5 1 false Tue Aug 26 09:39:08 -0700 2008 Sun Jun 29 16:50:24 -0700 2008 Tue Aug 26 09:39:08 -0700 2008 34011547 655723 9639 0375415033 9780375415036 15 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166031260m/9639.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166031260s/9639.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9639.Essays 4.32 837
Although best known as the author of Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-four, George Orwell left an even more lastingly significant achievement in his voluminous essays, which dealt with all the great social, political, and literary questions of the day and exemplified an incisive prose style that is still universally admired. Included among the more than 240 essays in this volume are Orwell’s famous discussion of pacifism, “My Country Right or Left”; his scathingly complicated views on the dirty work of imperialism in “Shooting an Elephant”; and his very firm opinion on how to make “A Nice Cup of Tea.”

In his essays, Orwell elevated political writing to the level of art, and his motivating ideas–his desire for social justice, his belief in universal freedom and equality, and his concern for truth in language–are as enduringly relevant now, a hundred years after his birth, as ever.]]> 1954 5 4 false Fri Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Sat Sep 27 21:09:40 -0700 2008 Tue Dec 01 20:20:14 -0800 2009 3 ----
Orwell is skyrocketing up my list of major 20th century writers with every one of the 255 pages I've thus far read of this 1300+ page behemoth. The man was amazingly prescient, at a deep, detailed level.

This was one of the best co...more...]]> 28630532 1354820 9640 0156186004 9780156186001 57 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374m/9640.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374s/9640.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9640.A_Collection_of_Essays 4.32 837 </DIV>]]> 1954 4 1 false Tue Jul 29 11:23:38 -0700 2008 Tue Jul 29 11:30:12 -0700 2008 more...]]> 25654739 1263717 9639 0375415033 9780375415036 15 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166031260m/9639.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166031260s/9639.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9639.Essays 4.32 837
Although best known as the author of Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-four, George Orwell left an even more lastingly significant achievement in his voluminous essays, which dealt with all the great social, political, and literary questions of the day and exemplified an incisive prose style that is still universally admired. Included among the more than 240 essays in this volume are Orwell’s famous discussion of pacifism, “My Country Right or Left”; his scathingly complicated views on the dirty work of imperialism in “Shooting an Elephant”; and his very firm opinion on how to make “A Nice Cup of Tea.”

In his essays, Orwell elevated political writing to the level of art, and his motivating ideas–his desire for social justice, his belief in universal freedom and equality, and his concern for truth in language–are as enduringly relevant now, a hundred years after his birth, as ever.]]> 1954 5 0 false Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Fri Jun 27 07:31:29 -0700 2008 Wed Oct 22 07:57:26 -0700 2008 more...]]> 56966677 2001252 9640 0156186004 9780156186001 57 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374m/9640.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374s/9640.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9640.A_Collection_of_Essays 4.32 837 </DIV>]]> 1954 4 0 false Fri May 22 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri May 22 10:01:51 -0700 2009 Fri May 22 10:04:04 -0700 2009 more...]]> 71740544 280382 9640 0156186004 9780156186001 57 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374m/9640.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374s/9640.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9640.A_Collection_of_Essays 4.32 837 </DIV>]]> 1954 4 0 false Sun Oct 11 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Sep 18 21:42:51 -0700 2009 Sun Oct 11 15:18:21 -0700 2009 more...]]> 47183333 832416 9640 0156186004 9780156186001 57 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374m/9640.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374s/9640.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9640.A_Collection_of_Essays 4.32 837 </DIV>]]> 1954 4 0 false Sun Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Sun Feb 22 15:02:52 -0800 2009 Sun Feb 22 15:06:36 -0800 2009 74267613 2831933 9640 0156186004 9780156186001 57 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374m/9640.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374s/9640.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9640.A_Collection_of_Essays 4.32 837 </DIV>]]> 1954 5 0 false Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1995 Mon Oct 12 08:15:29 -0700 2009 Mon Oct 12 08:20:01 -0700 2009 Orwell was on the cutting edge of culture and media studies. I return to his short writings over and over.]]> 80778357 3035852 9640 0156186004 9780156186001 57 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374m/9640.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374s/9640.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9640.A_Collection_of_Essays 4.32 837 </DIV>]]> 1954 4 0 false Sat Dec 12 13:22:16 -0800 2009 Sat Dec 12 13:23:23 -0800 2009 75350538 2854714 9639 0375415033 9780375415036 15 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166031260m/9639.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166031260s/9639.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9639.Essays 4.32 837
Although best known as the author of Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-four, George Orwell left an even more lastingly significant achievement in his voluminous essays, which dealt with all the great social, political, and literary questions of the day and exemplified an incisive prose style that is still universally admired. Included among the more than 240 essays in this volume are Orwell’s famous discussion of pacifism, “My Country Right or Left”; his scathingly complicated views on the dirty work of imperialism in “Shooting an Elephant”; and his very firm opinion on how to make “A Nice Cup of Tea.”

In his essays, Orwell elevated political writing to the level of art, and his motivating ideas–his desire for social justice, his belief in universal freedom and equality, and his concern for truth in language–are as enduringly relevant now, a hundred years after his birth, as ever.]]> 1954 4 0 false Sat Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Thu Oct 22 04:43:11 -0700 2009 Tue Nov 10 12:08:58 -0800 2009 more...]]> 57206486 2333669 9640 0156186004 9780156186001 57 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374m/9640.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374s/9640.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9640.A_Collection_of_Essays 4.32 837 </DIV>]]> 1954 3 0 false Sun May 24 20:06:44 -0700 2009 Sun May 24 20:06:44 -0700 2009 63013079 378991 9640 0156186004 9780156186001 57 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374m/9640.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374s/9640.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9640.A_Collection_of_Essays 4.32 837 </DIV>]]> 1954 3 0 false Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sat Jul 11 04:58:59 -0700 2009 Sat Aug 08 11:49:23 -0700 2009
If George Orwell lived in the age of creative express through social media, this book would be his blog. George wouldn't have bee...more...]]> 55747073 1868609 9640 0156186004 9780156186001 57 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374m/9640.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374s/9640.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9640.A_Collection_of_Essays 4.32 837 </DIV>]]> 1954 3 0 false Wed Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon May 11 20:07:56 -0700 2009 Fri Jun 19 19:15:38 -0700 2009
"Politics and the English Language" should be memorized by anyone who ever writes anything.
...more...]]> 47983664 88046 9640 0156186004 9780156186001 57 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374m/9640.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374s/9640.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9640.A_Collection_of_Essays 4.32 837 </DIV>]]> 1954 5 0 false Mon Mar 02 06:12:30 -0800 2009 Mon Mar 02 06:13:49 -0800 2009 30827553 82125 9640 0156186004 9780156186001 57 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374m/9640.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1205356374s/9640.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9640.A_Collection_of_Essays 4.32 837 </DIV>]]> 1954 4 0 false Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Thu Aug 21 14:59:47 -0700 2008 Tue Mar 17 12:31:06 -0700 2009
Ad...more...]]> 22836890 180643 9639 0375415033 9780375415036 15 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166031260m/9639.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166031260s/9639.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9639.Essays 4.32 837
Although best known as the author of Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-four, George Orwell left an even more lastingly significant achievement in his voluminous essays, which dealt with all the great social, political, and literary questions of the day and exemplified an incisive prose style that is still universally admired. Included among the more than 240 essays in this volume are Orwell’s famous discussion of pacifism, “My Country Right or Left”; his scathingly complicated views on the dirty work of imperialism in “Shooting an Elephant”; and his very firm opinion on how to make “A Nice Cup of Tea.”

In his essays, Orwell elevated political writing to the level of art, and his motivating ideas–his desire for social justice, his belief in universal freedom and equality, and his concern for truth in language–are as enduringly relevant now, a hundred years after his birth, as ever.]]> 1954 4 0 false Thu May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Fri May 23 15:16:40 -0700 2008 Fri May 23 15:30:32 -0700 2008 more...]]> 8 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=3629475