George Orwell is regarded as the greatest political writer in English of the twentieth century. The massive critical literature on Orwell has not only become extremely specialized, and therefore somewhat inaccessible to the nonscholar, but it has also attributed to and even created misconceptions about the man, the writer and his literary legacy. For these reasons, an overview of Orwell's writing and influence is an indispensable resource. Accordingly, this Companion serves as both an introduction to Orwell's work and furnishes numerous innovative interpretations and fresh critical perspectives on it. Throughout the Companion, which includes chapters dedicated to two of Orwell's major novels, Nineteen Eighty-Four and Animal Farm, Orwell's work is placed within the context of the political and social climate of the time. His response to the Depression, British imperialism, Stalinism, World War II, and the politics of the British Left are also examined.
George Orwell is regarded as the greatest political writer in English of the twentieth century. The massive critical literature on Orwell has not only become extremely specialized, and therefore somewhat inaccessible to the nonscholar, but it has also attributed to and even created misconceptions about the man, the writer and his literary legacy. For these reasons, an overview of Orwell's writing and influence is an indispensable resource. Accordingly, this Companion serves as both an introduction to Orwell's work and furnishes numerous innovative interpretations and fresh critical perspectives on it. Throughout the Companion, which includes chapters dedicated to two of Orwell's major novels, Nineteen Eighty-Four and Animal Farm, Orwell's work is placed within the context of the political and social climate of the time. His response to the Depression, British imperialism, Stalinism, World War II, and the politics of the British Left are also examined.
Zusammenfassung
George Orwell is regarded as the greatest political writer in English of the twentieth century. Chapters in this Companion address the issues central to his work and legacy. They concentrate on the fiction, including chapters dedicated to Nineteen Eighty-Four and Animal Farm, and documentary writings, and also cover Orwell’s prose style, patriotism, his positions on war and pacifism, and his anti-Communism. This Companion serves as an introduction to Orwell’s work and furnishes numerous innovative interpretations and fresh critical perspectives on it.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Preface; Notes on contributors; An Orwell calendar John Rodden; 1. A political writer John Rossi and John Rodden; 2. Orwell and the biographers Gordon Bowker; 3. Englands his Englands: Orwell's Britain between the wars Jonathan Rose; 4. The truths of experience: Orwell's nonfiction of the 1930s Margery Sabin; 5. The fictional realist: novels of the 1930s Michael Levenson; 6. Orwell's essays as a literary experience William Cain; 7. 'My Country, Right or Left': Orwell's patriotism John Rossi; 8. Orwell and the British left Ian Williams; 9. Orwell, anti-semitism, and the Holocaust John Newsinger; 10. Orwell and the Cold War Robert Conquest; 11. Animal Farm: history as fable M. Dickstein; 12. Nineteen Eighty-Four: context and controversy B. Crick; 13. Orwell, the academy, and the intellectuals Neil McLaughlin; 14. Orwell for today's reader: an open letter John Rodden; 15. George Orwell: a bibliographic essay Erika Gottlieb; 16. Why Orwell still matters Christopher Hitchens; Further reading.
