1 comments about Orwell (Life & Times Series) (Life&Times).

1. In my youth, after reading Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four, I considered George Orwell to be that quintessential beacon of political conscience, that single moral compass, a man with a terrifying awareness of the evils of political subterfuge, a man who left us with an essential warning: be vigilant!
   
   A contribution to the Life & Times series, Orwell, by Professor Scott Lucas, is not so much another project of sentimental praise or hagiography of a writer, but a successful attempt at objectivity, revealing a novelist, essayist and critic of popular culture who, at the end of his life, collaborated with "Big Brother" (British Intelligence) naming names of communists that he believed posed a threat to British (western) democracy. This list of 36 men and women remains a secret, and the British authorities continue to hold on to the list in the name of national security. This is a major contradiction of the man, considering he was the author of Nineteen Eighty-Four.
   
   Lucas does not involve himself in petty character assassination, demolishing this twentieth century icon for some sort of personal, political or academic gain. In fact, Professor Lucas reinforces Orwell's "decency", a man of courageous sensibilities; however, his "Englishness" as the author points out, remained a staple throughout his writing career.
   
   For the most part, this short critical biography touches upon Orwell's major writings, analysing each in a fair and interesting manner. Most twentieth century critics believe Orwell to be an essayist, a political critic, more so than a novelist. I believe Lucas agrees with this assessment, though, when one re-reads, `Down and Out in Paris and London', `Homage to Catalonia', `Animal Farm' or `Nineteen Eighty-Four', would have to admit that his talent as a novelist, although not genius, is excellent.
   
   This is a highly polished work, extremely well written and insightful in terms of the author's goal of objectivity. As an admitted hero-worshiper, it was a learning experience to read a piece on Orwell that attempted to approach the subject from many perspectives, some good, some not so, without bias in any form.
   
   That said, my only criticism is that the book should be longer, unpacking a few arguments that required further elaboration, however, it is obvious that the author was under space constraints from his editors. Then again, without question, this is a minor quibble.
   
   Although there seems to be many works on George Orwell, and many excellent biographies, (`Orwell: A Wintry Conscious of a Generation' is noteworthy) this one is surprisingly good: entertaining and educational.

No comments about Scott of the Antarctic (Get a Life).

No comments about Reina Victoria: Simbolo De Una Era.

1 comments about A Ragged Schooling: Growing Up in the Classic Slum.

1. 
   Personal account by Robert Roberts (a son of a shopkeeper within a large family) of his early years, growing up in a run-down area in Salford, Greater Manchester, England, covering the period from 1905 to about 1921.
   
   Interesting, informative, well-written, entertaining; an enjoyable read. Worth reading.
   
   9 out of 10

No comments about A Footnote to History.

No comments about A Square Peg: An Ulster Childhood.

No comments about Brief Lives: Modern English Version.

No comments about Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII.

No comments about Parnell: A Documentary History.

No comments about Eminent Victorians.