George Orwell biography
Eric Author Blair, better known by his pen name George Orwell, was born on June 25th, 1903. Ranked as the second greatest British writer, he is best known for his dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four and satirical allegory Animal Farm, which together have sold more copies than any two books by a 20th century author. He is considered one of the best chroniclers in English literature, with work orientated around the “awareness of social injustice, opposition to totalitarianism and commitment to democratic socialism” [Biography, 2013].
The Spanish Civil War and Political Visions For the majority of his life, Orwell lived under the shadow of major events, including the Spanish Civil War, which played an important role in defining his socialist views. In 1937, he decided to travel to Spain and fight for the Republicans against Francisco Franco’s military uprising. Having witnessed the success of the anarcho-syndicalist communities and the oppression of the anti-Stalin parties, he recognized the horror of Stalinist rule. He was strongly influenced by the anarchists' emphasis on individual freedom and Trotskyist critiques of the Russian Revolution, which transformed him into a lifelong socialist [Williams, n.d.]. In the novel The Road to Wigan Pier, Orwell states "A real Socialist is one who wishes – not merely conceives it as desirable, but actively wishes – to see tyranny overthrown" [Orwell, 1937]. In Why I Write, an essay documenting his journey to becoming a writer, "Every line of serious work that I have written has been written directly or indirectly against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism, as I understand it" [Orwell, 1947]. His distinct left-wing values and beliefs enabled him to “make political writing into an art” [Orwell, 1947]. His avid participation in the political world shaped the themes of his work. |
Health
In 1938, Orwell was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Depressed by his wife’s Eileen O'Shaughnessy’s death eight years later, his health deteriorated significantly, witnessing the emaciation of his body. Despite his poor physical health, Orwell continued writing, which could have contributed to the despondency of his works. He told his friends that “Ninety Eighty-Four would have been less gloomy had he not been so ill - it was a very dark, disturbing and pessimistic work”. Sick for his whole life, even as a child who suffered multiple bouts of bronchitis and a young man who had several episodes of bacterial pneumonia, his constant battling against illnesses "made him a better and more empathetic writer, in that his sense of human suffering made his writing more universal” [Baragona, 2005].
In 1938, Orwell was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Depressed by his wife’s Eileen O'Shaughnessy’s death eight years later, his health deteriorated significantly, witnessing the emaciation of his body. Despite his poor physical health, Orwell continued writing, which could have contributed to the despondency of his works. He told his friends that “Ninety Eighty-Four would have been less gloomy had he not been so ill - it was a very dark, disturbing and pessimistic work”. Sick for his whole life, even as a child who suffered multiple bouts of bronchitis and a young man who had several episodes of bacterial pneumonia, his constant battling against illnesses "made him a better and more empathetic writer, in that his sense of human suffering made his writing more universal” [Baragona, 2005].
Citations
Baragona, S. (2005) Tuberculosis, infertility may have influenced george orwell's writing. Retrieved 4/4/2013 from
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/32319.php
Biography. (2013) George orwell biography. Retrieved 4/1/2013 from http://www.biography.com/people/george-orwell-
9429833
Orwell, G. (1937) The road to wigan pier. London: Victor Gollancz Ltd.
Orwell, G. (1947) Why I write. Retrieved 4/3/2013 from http://orwell.ru/library/essays/wiw/english/e_wiw
Williams, R. (n.d.) Orwell’s political message. Retrieved 4/1/2013 from http://www.k-
1.com/Orwell/site/opinion/essays/rhodi.html
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/32319.php
Biography. (2013) George orwell biography. Retrieved 4/1/2013 from http://www.biography.com/people/george-orwell-
9429833
Orwell, G. (1937) The road to wigan pier. London: Victor Gollancz Ltd.
Orwell, G. (1947) Why I write. Retrieved 4/3/2013 from http://orwell.ru/library/essays/wiw/english/e_wiw
Williams, R. (n.d.) Orwell’s political message. Retrieved 4/1/2013 from http://www.k-
1.com/Orwell/site/opinion/essays/rhodi.html