George Orwell books

[SpearthrowerOwl]

Last edited Fri May 24, 2013, 05:29 PM - Edit history (1)

A thread for discussing George Orwell and his fantastic gifts of literature. When it comes to great novelists that have their feet deeply rooted in both politics and literature, Orwell stands at stratospheric proportions.

I've just read 1984 and Homage to Catalonia (a book Chomsky said was Orwell's best, and also a book of monolithic nonfiction contrary to the forum group title, and probably much to the dismay of many a powerful person..) and they're fantastic. I'm thinking about reading Keep the Aspidistra Flying and then giving Orwell a rest for a while before moving on to some others on my classic author list.

I thought 1984 was amazing, but when I got ahold of Homage to Catalonia (Orwell's first hand account of the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s, which was exceedingly important and less provincial than it sounds for reasons highlighted in the book), George Orwell took on a newfound importance to me out of respect for his unbelievable empiricism and ability to so called "walk the talk".



Also, feel free to discuss which of Orwell's books was your favorite. I'm especially interested in which of his books other than his most popular three (1984, Animal Farm, and Homage to Catalonia) was your favorite? This is an aspect of the thread I strongly encourage

[Curmudgeoness]

1. I have only read 1984 and Animal Farm,

but you have my interest up on revisiting those two as well as reading others. It has been many years since I read them, so it will be like reading them fresh. I do remember that I liked Animal Farm better than 1984, but I also remember that both of them shaped some of my opinions about government and power and manipulation of the masses. And those opinions are still with me....I can't shake them.

I can't go into much discussion on your topic right now......I will look into reading more of his books before I can offer anything more. But thanks for the prod.

[bemildred]

2. Everyman's Library has (or had) a complete Essays, which I can recommend,

and "Down and Out in Paris and London" is well worth it.

[SheilaT]

3. Down and Out in Paris and London.

Absolutely amazing. I will warn all of you, that the anti-Semitism in it is pervasive and offensive. Just remember that it was written a very long time ago. But the depiction of life in that time and place is mesmerizing.