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George Orwell
Offers a brief profile of the British novelist, discusses his most important works, and looks at the main influences on his writing
170 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 4, 2015
Another edition in the great Ungar Modern Literature Monographs.
I could really only do justice to the author with quote after quote from her book. This is the most penetratingly and emotionally devastating book I have read in years. I know I am supposed to come away with hope for the future, but I did not. I see so many repeating events and attitudes that it is clear the 1984 O'Briens (and the Cheneys, Gohmerts, Bushes, Kissingers, Stalins, Pol Pots, and ibn'Sauds, et. al.) do have control of history.
I like the consistent format of these books, which include chronologies and bibliographies. Another short but masterfully written book about an important author with important messages.
With respect to the work 1984 and modern freedom: For all their "newspeak" about "Liberty", the Tea Party Republicans and the modern Libertarians are closer to a Ceausescu than to a Bastiat. Orwell makes me glad I have not fathered children.
I could really only do justice to the author with quote after quote from her book. This is the most penetratingly and emotionally devastating book I have read in years. I know I am supposed to come away with hope for the future, but I did not. I see so many repeating events and attitudes that it is clear the 1984 O'Briens (and the Cheneys, Gohmerts, Bushes, Kissingers, Stalins, Pol Pots, and ibn'Sauds, et. al.) do have control of history.
I like the consistent format of these books, which include chronologies and bibliographies. Another short but masterfully written book about an important author with important messages.
With respect to the work 1984 and modern freedom: For all their "newspeak" about "Liberty", the Tea Party Republicans and the modern Libertarians are closer to a Ceausescu than to a Bastiat. Orwell makes me glad I have not fathered children.
April 16, 2024
Clear and concise account of and evaluation of George Orwell's works.
Samples --
He came to recognize that the stumbling block to the classless society was not political or social but psychological and metaphysical: that men love power and some men love it more than others, and some men will do -- literally -- anything to achieve power, and that neither he nor anyone else was able to explain why it is that men love power or why it is that a man con consider that the destruction of a country or a people or the world is not too great a price to pay for the power that he must have." p. 4 [foreshadowing Trump]
"Orwell's socialism had a compulsion in it that was motivated by more than economic and political theories. It was motivated by the search for a human nature that dew its sustenance from ordinary life and that was shared by most men. Orwell loved the ordinary and the commonplace." p. 9
Samples --
He came to recognize that the stumbling block to the classless society was not political or social but psychological and metaphysical: that men love power and some men love it more than others, and some men will do -- literally -- anything to achieve power, and that neither he nor anyone else was able to explain why it is that men love power or why it is that a man con consider that the destruction of a country or a people or the world is not too great a price to pay for the power that he must have." p. 4 [foreshadowing Trump]
"Orwell's socialism had a compulsion in it that was motivated by more than economic and political theories. It was motivated by the search for a human nature that dew its sustenance from ordinary life and that was shared by most men. Orwell loved the ordinary and the commonplace." p. 9
October 3, 2025
An introduction to Orwell's life and work. Not only do we get analyses of his two greatest works, "Animal Farm" and "1984," but the author also examines his lesser-known writings and essays. That was useful for me, as I don't think I'll ever get around to reading "A Clergyman's Daughter" or "Keep the Aspidistra Flying." I will look for his "Down and Out in Paris and London."
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews