George Orwell: A Personal Memoir

by T.R. Fyvel

A friend of the British writer portrays Orwell's personality and examines the influence of personal experience on Orwell's novels

Genres: Nonfiction

221 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1983

Reviews

[George]

3.5 stars. A short, concise biography that summarises Orwell’s life and comments on Orwell’s books, adding details of Mr Fyvel’s ten year relationship with Orwell. Mr. Fyvel was a friend and associate of Orwell’s during the last ten years of Orwell’s life. The first half of the book is a fairly good summation of Orwell’s background and his early writings. Whilst Mr Fyvel states that Orwell is a great writer, he makes reasoned critical comments on all of Orwell’s writings.

Orwell grew up is a lower middle class family and attended elite educational institutions in England. He empathised and identified with the working class and became a socialist. He was outspoken politically, not always the diplomat.

His book, Down and Out in Paris and London was his first published book and sold well. His next three books were not as successful. Orwell was disconcerted when he saw his book, Animal Farm, in the Children’s section in bookshops as he had specifically written the book for adults. Animal Farm was a huge success when first published.

This biography is a good brief introduction about George Orwell, the man and famous writer.