01 Collected Essays
by George Orwell
01 Collected Essays
George Orwell |
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 381)
If you ask me, essays are George Orwell's true talent. And I'm not just saying that because I think essays are da bomb or because I think Animal Farm is an overrated piece of caca. The thing that makes essays difficult to write is the ever-present "who cares?" question. All an essay really is is the musings of a man (or woman) written down. So, who cares? Why do I care what this guy thinks about whatever? Ahhh, but in the hands of a talented writer, who by their very nature must ...more
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Read in November, 2007
This is my homeboy right here. I so wish George Orwell was still alive and blogging about snack food. I would haunt that blog like you would not believe, and there could be lively debates in the comments about which snack foods were Fascist.
Seriously though, his writing makes me want to stand up and cheer. I even read the long-ass essay about Dickens, and I don't give a crap for Dickens. GENIUS.
Seriously though, his writing makes me want to stand up and cheer. I even read the long-ass essay about Dickens, and I don't give a crap for Dickens. GENIUS.
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Read in July, 1987
"Such, Such were the Joys" is probably the most well-known of the essays in this volume (or maybe it's "Shooting an Elephant" -- anyway). Like all of us remembering our school days, Orwell probably, um, adjusted his memories a bit in "Such, Such were the Joys," (in fact, I seem to recall reading something suggesting that he did just that), but I dare you to try to put it down once you've started reading it.
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Home to the greatest two Orwell essays ever written: "Why I Write" and "The Politics of the English Language."
Every time I read "Why I Write" I feel I should put away the personal attraction to writing erotica and insanity, violence and soap opera drama, in exchange for a more nobler purpose. I would be kidding myself, though, for that is what I write, but who better than Orwell to show me who I am?
Every time I read "Why I Write" I feel I should put away the personal attraction to writing erotica and insanity, violence and soap opera drama, in exchange for a more nobler purpose. I would be kidding myself, though, for that is what I write, but who better than Orwell to show me who I am?
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Read in August, 2008
So far su-per! "Inside the Whale" LITERALLY knocked my socks off (haha!)! Would that we were all so clear-headed (and unafraid of creating and sustaining gigantic, unwieldy metaphors, and smart enough to get away with it) as Mr. Orwell.
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couldn't put this down, still have like 3 essays to read. i love what he has to say. he can say anything without superfluity. "politics and the english language" was perfect. shooting an elephant was really heartbreaking.. gah, read it.
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recommends it for:
EVERYONE who likes life
i'm just saying... george orwell is a kick ass writer and has great things to say. his short stories are not nearly as awesome as say... down and out in paris and london but they are so fun to read, and are really thought provoking.
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Read in November, 2007
recommends it for:
General public
I use this as the source for one of the most powerful criticisms of government ever written -- "Politics and the English Language." Every citizen should read this to learn that nothing in politics is inevitable.
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Orwell writes about grand ideas, but the essays I like the most are the ones about his ordinary experiences, such as going to an exclusive private school in his youth and later working as a policeman in Burma.
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This might very well be my favorite non-fiction writing. Orwell's classics such as "Why I Write", "Shooting an Elephant" and "Politics and the English Language" are all compiled in this one volume.
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If this contained only "Politics and the English Language," it would still be a five star piece. Fortunately every other essay in the collection is quite wonderful as well.
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If you are a writer who has not read "Why I Write" and "Politics and the English Language" repeatedly, please remedy that immediately. Several times in a row. Thank you.
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Read in January, 2005
recommends it for:
those who love literature
Excellent series of essays by Orwell, including his famous "On Shooting an Elephant" and "The Politics of the English Language." His Burma essays are also included.
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Besides writing great stories, Orwell wrote essays on language and his thoughts on the time. Also contains many stories of his experiences in Burma.
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I read these over and over. "Inside the Whale" is probably my favorite, along with "Raffles and Miss Blanish" and "Boys' Weeklies." Excellent.
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orwell is great...everybody loves "politics and the english language." okay, well, everyone but every single student i've forced this upon.
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one of the many books that called to me during my cherished and highly amateur creative non-fiction class. alas, still shelved in to-read.
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Read in January, 1995
Orwell's essay "Politics and the English Language" is a classic and was formative in my understanding the relationship between the two.
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i heart orwell. if he were still alive, i'd marry him, and we'd go elephant shooting for our honeymoon.
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Read in January, 1999
One of the books that really opened up my mind back in high school; especially read 'Charles Dickens.'
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