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These essays demonstrate that Orwell was probably the greatest prose stylist in modern English literature. Highest rating.
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The Orwell Reader: Fiction, Essays, and Reportage
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Here is Orwell’s work in all its remarkable range and variety. The selections in this anthology show how Orwell developed as writer and as thinker; inevitably, too, they reflect and illuminate the history of the time of troubles in which he lived and worked. “A magnificent tribute to the probity, consistency and insight of Orwell’s topical writings” (Alfred Kazin). Introduction by Richard H. Rovere.
480 pages, Paperback
First published January 1,1956
This edition
- Format
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480 pages, Paperback
- Published
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March 8, 1961 by Mariner Books Classics
- ISBN
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9780156701761
- ASIN
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0156701766
- Language
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English
About the author
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Eric Arthur Blair was an English novelist, poet, essayist, journalist and critic who wrote under the pen name of George Orwell. His work is characterised by lucid prose, social criticism, opposition to all totalitarianism (both authoritarian communism and fascism), and support of democratic socialism.
Orwell is best known for his allegorical novella Animal Farm (1945) and the dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), although his works also encompass literary criticism, poetry, fiction and polemical journalism. His non-fiction works, including The Road to Wigan Pier (1937), documenting his experience of working-class life in the industrial north of England, and Homage to Catalonia (1938), an account of his experiences soldiering for the Republican faction of the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), are as critically respected as his essays on politics, literature, language and culture.
Orwell's work remains influential in popular culture and in political culture, and the adjective "Orwellian"—describing totalitarian and authoritarian social practices—is part of the English language, like many of his neologisms, such as "Big Brother", "Thought Police", "Room 101", "Newspeak", "memory hole", "doublethink", and "thoughtcrime". In 2008, The Times named Orwell the second-greatest British writer since 1945.
Orwell is best known for his allegorical novella Animal Farm (1945) and the dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), although his works also encompass literary criticism, poetry, fiction and polemical journalism. His non-fiction works, including The Road to Wigan Pier (1937), documenting his experience of working-class life in the industrial north of England, and Homage to Catalonia (1938), an account of his experiences soldiering for the Republican faction of the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), are as critically respected as his essays on politics, literature, language and culture.
Orwell's work remains influential in popular culture and in political culture, and the adjective "Orwellian"—describing totalitarian and authoritarian social practices—is part of the English language, like many of his neologisms, such as "Big Brother", "Thought Police", "Room 101", "Newspeak", "memory hole", "doublethink", and "thoughtcrime". In 2008, The Times named Orwell the second-greatest British writer since 1945.
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I wish we had more journalists of Orwell's caliber writing today. It's difficult to map his views and insights to the world we have today except in the general sense of power and oppressed peoples.
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Preface-review does not start here.
I was introduced to George Orwell almost three years ago when I was at the gym with my buddy. We were talking about literature(we always talk literature when lifting weights, it helps get us in the mood), and that's when my friend brought up the novel 1984. So, here I am, not knowing a damn thing about this book. My friend was literally flabbergasted when I mentioned that I did not who George Orwell was. That's when he recommended reading 1984, as he claimed this was a popular book and a fantastic read.
And so I did. That week I went to the local bookshop and picked it up. I started reading it, then just like the person I am, left it on the shelve for the remainder of its life. It sat there for about two years before I picked it back up and started to read it. Of course I started from the beginning. That's when I became hooked, and finished the book in less than four days. I literally fell in love with Orwell and then immediately picked up Animal Farm, then finished that in 2 days. Then that's when I picked up this book, The Orwell Reader: Fiction, Essays, and Reportage.
REAL REVIEW STARTS HERE!
This book is truly amazing. Here you will read Orewll's truest thoughts, ideas and views. This book contains some of the greatest essays that were ever written, such as Shooting and Elephant and Politics and the English Language, essays that you can read over and over again.
I am disappointed that I have not taken advantage of this before. Orwell's deepest feelings are attached with his essays. These collection of essays doesn't just tell you who George Orwell is, but Eric Arthur Blair, the man before George Orwell.
Just like 1984 and Animal Farm, George shows how strongly he feels about politics, and from his Burmese days.
I really don't know any other way to explain the wonders in George's essays. If you're into real English literature, this book is for you.
I was introduced to George Orwell almost three years ago when I was at the gym with my buddy. We were talking about literature(we always talk literature when lifting weights, it helps get us in the mood), and that's when my friend brought up the novel 1984. So, here I am, not knowing a damn thing about this book. My friend was literally flabbergasted when I mentioned that I did not who George Orwell was. That's when he recommended reading 1984, as he claimed this was a popular book and a fantastic read.
And so I did. That week I went to the local bookshop and picked it up. I started reading it, then just like the person I am, left it on the shelve for the remainder of its life. It sat there for about two years before I picked it back up and started to read it. Of course I started from the beginning. That's when I became hooked, and finished the book in less than four days. I literally fell in love with Orwell and then immediately picked up Animal Farm, then finished that in 2 days. Then that's when I picked up this book, The Orwell Reader: Fiction, Essays, and Reportage.
REAL REVIEW STARTS HERE!
This book is truly amazing. Here you will read Orewll's truest thoughts, ideas and views. This book contains some of the greatest essays that were ever written, such as Shooting and Elephant and Politics and the English Language, essays that you can read over and over again.
I am disappointed that I have not taken advantage of this before. Orwell's deepest feelings are attached with his essays. These collection of essays doesn't just tell you who George Orwell is, but Eric Arthur Blair, the man before George Orwell.
Just like 1984 and Animal Farm, George shows how strongly he feels about politics, and from his Burmese days.
I really don't know any other way to explain the wonders in George's essays. If you're into real English literature, this book is for you.
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100% "meh."
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Some most excellent stuff within this one which includes his trenchant "Politics and the English Language"; "Shooting an Elephant"; "Rudyard Kipling"; ""Tolstoy and Shakespeare"; and a bunch of other ones. Orwell is one whose writing becomes ever more relevant to today's world, as he managed to see clear through early on the processes through which language is perverted to serve the needs of the totalitarian state. You will never know your enemy better than by reading Orwell first.
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Orwell's writings are truly wonderful. I especially liked "the shooting of an elephant" because it seemed so unordinary. A good read, one that any history major interested in British Foreign Policy and Imperialist views should read.
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I loved this collection. I do not like Orwell’s fiction, but his nonfiction eats.
“Such, Such Were the Joys…” is one of my favorite essays now.
“Such, Such Were the Joys…” is one of my favorite essays now.
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Some great essay selections I hadn't found elsewhere; but first read 1984.
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