George Orwell Matters! discussion

Which books and articles about George Orwell have you read? Please link here to any of interest.

If you have written or published anything about George Orwell or his works, you may also link to it here.

Finding George Orwell in Burma by Emma Larkin

The author traces George Orwell's career path in Burma. As she visits the places he's been stationed, she compares & contrasts what she is experiencing with George Orwell's experiences.
The book is a mix of history, politics, travelogue, analysis and biography all rolled up into one interesting book.

Note: if you haven’t read Burmese Days and Orwell’s essay, Shooting an Elephant, be prepared for major spoilers.
There are also some minor spoilers for Animal Farm, 1984, The Road to Wigan Pier and Keep The Apidistra Flying.

I recently read The Crystal Spirit: A Study of George Orwell by George Woodcock, an informative and interesting book by a writer who knew and admired George Orwell.

I haven't read this yet, but I thought the title asks a question pertinent to the theme of this group. Why Orwell Matters. Looking again, it's probably not a question.

I have read 10 of his books. No essays yet. I like the social conscience of Orwell’s writings. Burmese Days, Homage to Catalonia, 1984, Animal Farm and The Clergyman’s Daughter all hold up well. The Road to Wigan Pier, Down and Out in Paris are all commentaries that he experienced where he wrote about the conditions people lived with in during the 1930s. I look forward to reading more or revisiting some of his works.

Some great ideas here for books about George Orwell, thanks. Keep them coming!

Ginny, yes the name of our group is deliberately ambiguous :)

Hi all. I have been able to get a copy of 'Why Orwell Matters' by another of my literary heroes - Christopher Hitchens.

I'm going to start reading this today and am very interested in what Hitchens has to say about his Hero - Orwell.

If anybody has read this book, I'd love to discuss our thoughts!

Regards. Tom

That sounds very promising! Feel free to start a thread off in the "Members' folder" for it, Tom. It might be noticed better there, and not get lost :)

I just finished 1947: Where Now Begins by Elisabeth Åsbrink. She talks about many things that happened in that fateful year. One of them was that George Orwell, after his wife died, went with his young son to the Scottish Island of Jura, and worked on his last book, 1984. He didn't realize how ill he was (tuberculosis), but wouldn't take the time to go to the doctor because of the pressing need he felt to finish this book.

I haven't read an Orwell biography yet, but this tidbit inspired me to do so soon.

And here's a new one coming out soon by Rebecca Solnit: Orwell's Roses.

Thanks Kathleen! These both sound fascinating, and a little bit different too. I hope you'll report back when you've read them :)

Kathleen wrote: "And here's a new one coming out soon by Rebecca Solnit: Orwell's Roses."

I just learned that Solnit's book, Orwell's Roses is to be available in hardback edition on October 19th in U.S. by Viking Press. I've placed a hold for it at my library - sounds interesting.

From Bookreporter.com:
"Rebecca Solnit’s new book is a reflection on George Orwell’s passionate gardening and the way that his involvement with plants, particularly flowers, and the natural world illuminates his other commitments as a writer and antifascist, and the intertwined politics of nature and power. Sparked by her unexpected encounter with the surviving roses he planted in 1936, Solnit’s account of this understudied aspect of Orwell’s life explores his writing and his actions --- from going deep into the coal mines of England, fighting in the Spanish Civil War, critiquing Stalin when much of the international left still supported him (and then critiquing that left), to his analysis of the relationship between lies and authoritarianism."

Great! Thanks Elizabeth.

My thoughts on Orwell's Roses by Rebecca Solnit:

"In the spring of 1936, a writer planted roses."

Author Rebecca Solnit shows us how George Orwell loved nature and the environment. Orwell was a writer who brought the natural world into his essays and novels. Even in the grim times of his political book "Nineteen Eighty-Four," Winston Smith dreams of a beautiful landscape that he calls the Golden Country.

"Orwell's Roses" is a collection of 27 essays, some about Orwell's life or his writing, while others go off on tangents. For example, when Solnit writes about Orwell's ancestors, she also tells about the sugar plantations in Jamaica where enslaved Africans labored. When Solnit discusses roses, she tells about a trip to Colombia to visit the greenhouses that supply American florists, and the poor working conditions in the "rose factories." Tangents about the Spanish Civil War and the policies of Stalin accompany Solnit's discussions of Orwell's writing.

Solnit visited the cottage in Wallington where Orwell planted roses in 1936. He also planted a garden and fruit trees, raised a few animals, and enjoyed fishing. Plagued by lifelong respiratory problems, it was good for his health to get away from the coal smoke of London. He was also escaping the dangers of the blitz when he moved to the English village.

His last residence was on the remote Scottish island of Jura where he hoped the clean air would help in his fight against tuberculosis. Again, he had a large garden and loved to spend time outdoors fishing. Orwell requested that rose bushes mark his gravesite.

This was an exceptional collection of essays. While it helped to have such an interesting subject as Orwell, Solnit is a brilliant writer who finds unexpected connections in her essays.

This is a really helpful overview Connie - thank you so much! It sounds like an absorbing collection of essays.

I've added this to my ereader.iq watch list, so that I can get it when the price comes down a bit :)

I was lucky to receive the book as a Christmas gift, Jean. I liked Solnit's writing so I'll be looking at her other works.

I hadn't heard of her before this one.

Rebecca Solnit gave a talk to the Orwell Society about her book in November 2021 - if you would like to hear her talk about the book and her inspiration for it then you can see her talk via the link on (from main menu follow “The Society” and then “George Talks”) or on the Orwell Society Youtube channel.

Connie, thanks for the recommendation. I really enjoyed Solnit's book, Wanderlust: A History of Walking.

Eileen wrote: "Connie, thanks for the recommendation. I really enjoyed Solnit's book, Wanderlust: A History of Walking."

That book looked tempting to me too, Eileen.

Thanks Chris.

Thanks for the link to Solnit's talk, Chris.

Here’s an odd one - it’s more about totalitarianism than pure Orwell but if you think about all the things Orwell was warning about in Animal Farm and 1984 - thought control, control of truth, the role of the party and the leader against the individual “proles” etc etc - they are all contained in various ways in why I think is a brilliant book by Nicholas Bonner called “Printed in North Korea - the art of everyday life in the DPRK.” This is a stunning collection of images by artists from within North Korea where art is inseparable from the propaganda system. I’ve done a separate longer review in my feed but I found this book a unique insight into a real life contemporary totalitarian regime exhibiting many of the attributes that Orwell brings out in his final two books. Many of the images could be illustrations for 1984.

Interesting - although not about George Orwell, as you say. I enjoyed your review, thank you, and must ask my GR friend who currently lives in South Korea what they think.

Chris - would you like to start your own thread on George Orwell's ideas, or a similar topic within our rules which could be of interest?