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Orwell on Freedom
With an introduction by Kamila Shamsie
‘Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.’
GEORGE ORWELL is one of the world’s most famous writers and social commentators. Through his writing he exposed the unjust sufferings of the poor and unemployed, warned against totalitarianism and defended freedom of speech.
This selection, from both his novels and non-fiction, charts his prescient and clear-eyed thinking on the subject of FREEDOM. It ranges from pieces on individual liberty, society and technology, to political liberty, revolution and the importance of free speech. Orwell's ambition to create a fairer and more egalitarian society is essential inspiration as we strive for freedom and equality in today's world.
'If liberty means anything at all it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.'
‘Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.’
GEORGE ORWELL is one of the world’s most famous writers and social commentators. Through his writing he exposed the unjust sufferings of the poor and unemployed, warned against totalitarianism and defended freedom of speech.
This selection, from both his novels and non-fiction, charts his prescient and clear-eyed thinking on the subject of FREEDOM. It ranges from pieces on individual liberty, society and technology, to political liberty, revolution and the importance of free speech. Orwell's ambition to create a fairer and more egalitarian society is essential inspiration as we strive for freedom and equality in today's world.
'If liberty means anything at all it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.'
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Published November 22, 2018
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About the author
George Orwell
1,263 books50.5k followersEric 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 fascism and stalinism), 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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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 9, 2019
This collection of essays, excerpts, and letters of Orwell put together seemed quite scatterbrained to me. I had to read it for the second time to isolate one chapter from the other and quarantine the fiction bits for extensive examination. This makes it particularly difficult to review this book as a whole.
I am dumbfound by the number of aspects of freedom discussed in this book. Money, health, values, authority, politics, speech, technology, employment, inferiority, and public opinion to name a few. It's going to take me a few more readings to wrap my head around it all.
I am dumbfound by the number of aspects of freedom discussed in this book. Money, health, values, authority, politics, speech, technology, employment, inferiority, and public opinion to name a few. It's going to take me a few more readings to wrap my head around it all.
June 27, 2022
ამ წიგნის კითხვისას უცნაური ფაქტი აღმოვაჩინე - ერთ-ერთი ჩემი საყვარელი მწერალი თურმე ლამის გაფანატებული სოციალისტი ყოფილა. ჩემს გონებაში ჯერ კიდევ ვერ ვაწყობ იმ ფაზლს თუ რანაირად შეიძლება ადამიანმა დაწერო ცხოველების ფერმა, 1984 და ამავდროულად გულანთებული ქომაგობდე ბრიტანეთის სოციალისტურ წყობაზე გადასვლას.
ალბათ პარადოქსია, რომ ორუელს მისი სოციალისტური მრწამსისათვის არასოდეს უღალატია, მაგრამ სწორედ სოციალისტური და კომუნისტური რეჟიმების მძაფრი კრიტიკით გაითქვა სახელი.
ამ წიგნში თავმოყრილია ორუელის პუბლიკაციები, წერილები და მონაკვეთები წიგნიდან, განსაკუთრებით საინტერესო პუბლიკაციები და წერილები იყო რადგან მსგავსი ნაწერებით უფრო მეტს იგებ ავტორის შესახებ ვიდრე მისი ნაწარმოებიდან.
მოკლედ დიდი რეკომენდაცია ამ წიგნს ვისაც აინტერესებს თუ როგორი იყო ოპოზიცია ბრიტანეთში მსოფლიოში ერთ-ერთ ყველაზე მწვავე პერიოდში 1928–1950 წლებში.
ალბათ პარადოქსია, რომ ორუელს მისი სოციალისტური მრწამსისათვის არასოდეს უღალატია, მაგრამ სწორედ სოციალისტური და კომუნისტური რეჟიმების მძაფრი კრიტიკით გაითქვა სახელი.
ამ წიგნში თავმოყრილია ორუელის პუბლიკაციები, წერილები და მონაკვეთები წიგნიდან, განსაკუთრებით საინტერესო პუბლიკაციები და წერილები იყო რადგან მსგავსი ნაწერებით უფრო მეტს იგებ ავტორის შესახებ ვიდრე მისი ნაწარმოებიდან.
მოკლედ დიდი რეკომენდაცია ამ წიგნს ვისაც აინტერესებს თუ როგორი იყო ოპოზიცია ბრიტანეთში მსოფლიოში ერთ-ერთ ყველაზე მწვავე პერიოდში 1928–1950 წლებში.
January 29, 2020
This is an anthology of Orwell's writing - both from his novels such as 1984 and Animal Farm, and from his journalism - all loosely on the topic of "freedom". Although Orwell was a brilliant writer of the highest standard, this is an odd collection and I cannot help wondering if it has come out simply because it is 70 years since his death. Whilst there are some brilliant pieces here which reflect his insight and his prescience - there are many which feel rather dated and are quite uninteresting unless you were an Orwell scholar. So, some pieces you may not have read, but don't expect anything quite as brilliant as his major works.
August 18, 2024
A collection of essays, letters, and excerpts by George Orwell that explore his views on the concept of freedom. Through his essays and reflections, Orwell critiques the oppressive systems of his time and offers insights into the importance of free thought and expression in any society.
Although times have changed, true freedom has never been fully achieved by any people or nation. We have always been, and will always be, caged.
Although times have changed, true freedom has never been fully achieved by any people or nation. We have always been, and will always be, caged.
September 24, 2019
Every time I read or reread Orwell my appreciation for his insight grows. The fact that he was writing about such salient and important topics then, and the fact that we're still dealing with many of the same problems now is both impressive and slightly concerning. While he very clearly identifies as a socialist and I don't, I can still appreciate much of what he says and I think it's something that more people should be aware of.
January 3, 2024
Great compilation of George Orwell’s best on freedom. Kept getting reminded why Eric Arthur Blair is my favorite English author of all time.
July 26, 2019
A relevant book to today, this collection of Orwell fiction and non-fiction work addresses the issues of free speech, tyranny, and authoritarianism. Orwell's ability to foretell the future is impressive, as is evidenced in many of the manuscripts found in this book. Western society would be wise to continue yielding to the many warnings Orwell brought forth in his life, in order to maintain the many values and freedoms we continue to enjoy.
December 12, 2018
A collection of Orwell's writing on freedom. The concept of the book is very catchy, but the way it was presented was rather monotonous and boring. It would be much lovelier to come across his writings one by one by chance. I felt like having a very weak tea of fine leaves.
My most favourite passage was this: 'When one sees highly educated men looking on indifferently at oppression and persecution, one wonders which to despise more, their cynicism or their short-sightedness.'
My most favourite passage was this: 'When one sees highly educated men looking on indifferently at oppression and persecution, one wonders which to despise more, their cynicism or their short-sightedness.'
October 7, 2020
I read in English but this review is in Bahasa Indonesia
Masih merupakan efek dari membaca kumpulan esainya Arundhati Roy yang berjudul Capitalism: A Ghost Story, aku teringat bahwa George Orwell tampaknya pernah membahas tentang kapitalisme juga. Dengan bermodal ingatan samar-samar itu, aku mencoba menjajaki Orwell on Freedom.
Dalam Orwell on Freedom, berisi kumpulan tulisan-tulisan Orwell baik fiksi ataupun non fiksi yang menggarisbawahi tentang kebebasan. Perlu diingat, Orwell aktif menulis dan mengkritisi ketika Perang Dunia II sedang terjadi. Pertarungan sengit antara Inggris dengan Jerman dan Rusia menjadi tema yang sangat dominan. Meskipun begitu, tulisan Orwell tersebut masih saja relevan jika didudukan pada kondisi perpolitikan saat ini.
Yang menyenangkan adalah bagaimana Orwell juga dengan lugas berani memberikan kritik baik untuk negaranya maupun untuk negara lawan dari Inggris. Baginya, kebebasan itu tidak ada. Kebebasan adalah suatu hal yang bersifat semu dan semuanya telah diatur oleh dalang.
Tulisan-tulisan Orwell sangatlah terang-terangan. Baginya, penulis seharunsya berani mengemukakan pendapat, mengemukakan perasaannya, merespon akan suatu hal yang menjadi perhatiannya. Bukan malah tunduk terhadap opini publik.
Sesungguhnya, Orwell on Freedom bisa dikategorikan sebagai an easy read. Hanya saja, para pembaca minimal sudah memahami konteks yang ditekankan oleh Orwell. Lebih baik lagi jika sudah familiar dengan salah satu tulisannya.
"What we call democracy in capitalist country only remains in being while things are going well; in time of difficulty it turns immediately into Facism."
Masih merupakan efek dari membaca kumpulan esainya Arundhati Roy yang berjudul Capitalism: A Ghost Story, aku teringat bahwa George Orwell tampaknya pernah membahas tentang kapitalisme juga. Dengan bermodal ingatan samar-samar itu, aku mencoba menjajaki Orwell on Freedom.
Dalam Orwell on Freedom, berisi kumpulan tulisan-tulisan Orwell baik fiksi ataupun non fiksi yang menggarisbawahi tentang kebebasan. Perlu diingat, Orwell aktif menulis dan mengkritisi ketika Perang Dunia II sedang terjadi. Pertarungan sengit antara Inggris dengan Jerman dan Rusia menjadi tema yang sangat dominan. Meskipun begitu, tulisan Orwell tersebut masih saja relevan jika didudukan pada kondisi perpolitikan saat ini.
Yang menyenangkan adalah bagaimana Orwell juga dengan lugas berani memberikan kritik baik untuk negaranya maupun untuk negara lawan dari Inggris. Baginya, kebebasan itu tidak ada. Kebebasan adalah suatu hal yang bersifat semu dan semuanya telah diatur oleh dalang.
"The point is that the relative freedom which we enjoy depends on public opinion."
Tulisan-tulisan Orwell sangatlah terang-terangan. Baginya, penulis seharunsya berani mengemukakan pendapat, mengemukakan perasaannya, merespon akan suatu hal yang menjadi perhatiannya. Bukan malah tunduk terhadap opini publik.
"The journalist is unfree, and is conscious of unfreedom, when he is force to write lies or suppress what seems to him important news..."
Sesungguhnya, Orwell on Freedom bisa dikategorikan sebagai an easy read. Hanya saja, para pembaca minimal sudah memahami konteks yang ditekankan oleh Orwell. Lebih baik lagi jika sudah familiar dengan salah satu tulisannya.
May 15, 2020
It was often difficult to follow the train of thought that the editors desired the reader to notice. Often, a lot of the essays were segments of Orwell's thoughts regarding the means of production and the proletariat in Britain. Although I understand that the editors' intention was likely to have the reader extrapolate that Orwell was against the capitalistic higher classes and their enslavement of the lower classes; this worked, though, the magnification of this idea in the text was done so in a boring fashion. It didn't "really" address freedom in an expansive way. The organization of text needs work, I felt I kept reading the same thing over and over.
June 11, 2020
Es interesante pensar en que actualmente podamos leer lo que queramos, algo que damos por sentado. Me causa curiosidad el pensar esa realidad en la que no puedes decir ni escuchar opiniones diferentes.
Lo interesante es que es cada vez más frecuente la dificultad de hablar sin el temor de insultar a alguien.
Lo interesante es que es cada vez más frecuente la dificultad de hablar sin el temor de insultar a alguien.
June 3, 2021
Socialiștii nu susțin că trecerea la colectivism va face ca viața oamenilor să fie mai fericită, mai ușoară sau chiar mai liberă imediat. Dimpotrivă, tranziția poate face ca viața să devină aproape de nesuportat o lungă perioadă, poate sute de ani. Există un anumit țel pe care trebuie să-l atingem – pe care știm că îl vom ajunge, până la urmă – și calea spre el poate trece prin niște locuri îngrozitoare. Socialiștii de, aș zice, aproape orice tendință sunt convinși că menirea și deci adevărata fericire a omului se află într-o societate a comunismului pur, adică o societate în care toți oamenii sunt mai mult sau mai puțin egali, în care nimeni nu are puterea de a-l oprima pe altul, în care nu mai acționează motivațiile economice, în care oamenii sunt mânați de iubire și curiozitate, nu de lăcomie și teamă. Acesta este destinul nostru și de el nu putem scăpa; dar cum îl putem împlini și cât de repede – asta depinde numai de noi. Socialismul – deținerea centralizată a mijloacelor de producție, plus democrație politică – este următorul pas necesar către comunism, la fel cum capitalismul a fost următorul pas necesar după feudalism. Nu este în sine obiectivul final și eu cred că ar trebui să ne ferim să presupunem că va fi cu adevărat de preferat capitalismului democratic, ca sistem în care trăiesc oameni.
[…] Nu există nici un motiv pentru a crede că Vestul va imita Estul. Atunci când oamenii vorbesc despre Vest sau de civilizația vestică, se referă la grupul de state înșirate de-a lungul coastei nord-atlantice, Scandinavia, Țările de Jos, Franța, Marea Britanie și America de Nord. Statele acestea au destule în comun ca să fie considerate o singură cultură. Toate au fost influențate de ideile Revoluției Franceze, toate au creat democrații parlamentare ce erau ineficiente, dar permiteau ținerea sub control a aventurierilor politici, toate aveau un nivel de trai suficient de înalt ca să îngăduie dezvoltarea unor mișcări muncitorești independente. Două dintre ele, cele mai mari, au fost ferite de invaziile străine și de dominația unor armate grație poziției lor maritime. Și mai important, credința în valoarea democrației burgheze este foarte răspândită în toate aceste țări – mai degrabă printre oamenii de rând decât printre cei care îi conduc. O fi libertatea o iluzie, dar, în Anglia, nu ai putea convinge un număr mare de tineri să umble peste tot spunând „Scuipăm pe libertate”, iar lucrul acesta are o importanță simptomatică. Dușmanii civilizației occidentale vor să arate că viața relativ tihnită și decentă din democrații nu este decât reflexia unor venituri mari la nivel național, care de un secol se bazează în mare parte pe munca persoanelor de culoare. Este adevărat, dar e ca și cum ai spune: „Câmpul ăsta este mai mănos decât celălalt numai pentru că s-a pus pe el îngrășământ anul trecut”. Scrupulele noastre nu sunt mai puțin reale pentru că le-am cumpărat cu sângele unor culi indieni. Detestarea violenței civile și respectarea libertății de expresie sunt elemente constitutive ale vieții în Occident, puțin probabil să dispară peste noapte, chiar dacă nivelul nostru de trai ar scădea până la cel din Europa de Est. Convingerile oamenilor nu depind atât de strict de circumstanțele materiale ca să se poată schimba de la o zi la alta sau chiar de la an la an. Un profesor universitar dintr-un domeniu al științei naufragiat pe o insulă pustie poate fi dus la condiția unui sălbatic, dar nu devine un sălbatic. Nu începe să creadă, de pildă, că Soarele se învârte în jurul Pământului. Atunci când se va înfăptui revoluția noastră, structura noastră socialăși economicå va fi total diferitå, însă ne vom păstra multe din modurile de gândire și de comportament pe care le-am deprins anterior. Națiunile nu își șterg trecutul cu una, cu două. Democrația capitalistă nu trebuie salvată, ea este pe cale de dispariție, dar asta nu înseamnă că într-o bună zi o să ne trezim într-o lume a sloganurilor și a bastoanelor de cauciuc. Cred că răspunsul la întrebarea domnului Ede trebuie să fie că, dacă putem face revoluția, ea va fi relativ fără vărsare de sânge și că multe trăsături ale democrației capitaliste, care, pe bună dreptate, se teme dumnealui că vor dispărea, vor putea să persiste.
[…] Nu există nici un motiv pentru a crede că Vestul va imita Estul. Atunci când oamenii vorbesc despre Vest sau de civilizația vestică, se referă la grupul de state înșirate de-a lungul coastei nord-atlantice, Scandinavia, Țările de Jos, Franța, Marea Britanie și America de Nord. Statele acestea au destule în comun ca să fie considerate o singură cultură. Toate au fost influențate de ideile Revoluției Franceze, toate au creat democrații parlamentare ce erau ineficiente, dar permiteau ținerea sub control a aventurierilor politici, toate aveau un nivel de trai suficient de înalt ca să îngăduie dezvoltarea unor mișcări muncitorești independente. Două dintre ele, cele mai mari, au fost ferite de invaziile străine și de dominația unor armate grație poziției lor maritime. Și mai important, credința în valoarea democrației burgheze este foarte răspândită în toate aceste țări – mai degrabă printre oamenii de rând decât printre cei care îi conduc. O fi libertatea o iluzie, dar, în Anglia, nu ai putea convinge un număr mare de tineri să umble peste tot spunând „Scuipăm pe libertate”, iar lucrul acesta are o importanță simptomatică. Dușmanii civilizației occidentale vor să arate că viața relativ tihnită și decentă din democrații nu este decât reflexia unor venituri mari la nivel național, care de un secol se bazează în mare parte pe munca persoanelor de culoare. Este adevărat, dar e ca și cum ai spune: „Câmpul ăsta este mai mănos decât celălalt numai pentru că s-a pus pe el îngrășământ anul trecut”. Scrupulele noastre nu sunt mai puțin reale pentru că le-am cumpărat cu sângele unor culi indieni. Detestarea violenței civile și respectarea libertății de expresie sunt elemente constitutive ale vieții în Occident, puțin probabil să dispară peste noapte, chiar dacă nivelul nostru de trai ar scădea până la cel din Europa de Est. Convingerile oamenilor nu depind atât de strict de circumstanțele materiale ca să se poată schimba de la o zi la alta sau chiar de la an la an. Un profesor universitar dintr-un domeniu al științei naufragiat pe o insulă pustie poate fi dus la condiția unui sălbatic, dar nu devine un sălbatic. Nu începe să creadă, de pildă, că Soarele se învârte în jurul Pământului. Atunci când se va înfăptui revoluția noastră, structura noastră socialăși economicå va fi total diferitå, însă ne vom păstra multe din modurile de gândire și de comportament pe care le-am deprins anterior. Națiunile nu își șterg trecutul cu una, cu două. Democrația capitalistă nu trebuie salvată, ea este pe cale de dispariție, dar asta nu înseamnă că într-o bună zi o să ne trezim într-o lume a sloganurilor și a bastoanelor de cauciuc. Cred că răspunsul la întrebarea domnului Ede trebuie să fie că, dacă putem face revoluția, ea va fi relativ fără vărsare de sânge și că multe trăsături ale democrației capitaliste, care, pe bună dreptate, se teme dumnealui că vor dispărea, vor putea să persiste.
May 3, 2024
Jolly read, although not as profound as its kindred “Orwell on Truth”. The bulk of the text contains pieces of Orwell that thrust the responsibility of Freedom upon authors and journalists although without diminution or emaciating the role of the greater public. For example stating that the public must demand honest journalism for writers and publicists while admitting that frankly “They are unwilling, at any rate, to spend anywhere near as much on reading matter as they spend on several other recreations.” Moreover the piece reiterates the MLK Jr proverb that injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere by elucidating the deluded and factitious thought that one can encourage totalitarian methods without the fear “when they will be used against you instead of for you” or that “ the fallacy is to believe that under a dictatorial government you can be free inside” in other words injustice irrevocably breeds more injustice.
The last stark warning worth noting is that “You can’t fight against Fascism in the name of ‘democracy,’ because what we call democracy in a capitalist country only remains in being while things are going well; in time of difficulty it turns immediately into Fascism.” This passage echos the words of Benjamin Franklin whom stated that “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”
That is to say that quisling individuals that aim to diminish freedom for some are laying the road for the unfreedom of all.
The last stark warning worth noting is that “You can’t fight against Fascism in the name of ‘democracy,’ because what we call democracy in a capitalist country only remains in being while things are going well; in time of difficulty it turns immediately into Fascism.” This passage echos the words of Benjamin Franklin whom stated that “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”
That is to say that quisling individuals that aim to diminish freedom for some are laying the road for the unfreedom of all.
November 1, 2019
This is a very well edited collection of essays and excerpts from the work of George Orwell, both fiction and non-fiction. His writing about democracy and politics sprang from a particular time in the 1930s and 1940s, but his writing was insightful and found truth, and the institutions of democracy, communism, socialism, and capitalism have retained enough of their likeness from those times that Orwell's insights still ring true at times today. Our democracy in the west is not perfect, and it may have already passed its most healthy point, and this fact might make Orwell's observations true again today since he saw so many flaws in the democracy of his age. Well worth a review since the editing was so well done. The pieces can be read alone and in any order, but the chronological order and careful selection enabled the book to develop its own kind of theses on the topics addressed, and the book seems to be coherent if read from start to end.
August 2, 2021
Excellent. Brief, edgy and correct in terms of moral values. I would rather say it is mostly about freedom of speech rather than freedom in general - although the first part is indeed about the human condition and its freedom in what we call "society".
Other than that I loved his position on being correct and sincere first to ouselves and then to the reality around us. There is no discussion about "freedom" if we don't find a way to be sincere and accept that some of us were born with certain "advantages" and that those "advantages" mean nothing and everything at the same time..
Other than that I loved his position on being correct and sincere first to ouselves and then to the reality around us. There is no discussion about "freedom" if we don't find a way to be sincere and accept that some of us were born with certain "advantages" and that those "advantages" mean nothing and everything at the same time..
September 30, 2020
Orwell is the kind of man that lived through the presumably idealistic regimes of the 20th century (capitalism, imperialism, socialism) and had the clarity of thought, the insight and the talent to criticise their effects on our individual freedom with a headstrong integrity throughout all his life, despite all the hardships and opposition he faced.
His writings are a lifeline for the freedom we have to preserve constantly.
His writings are a lifeline for the freedom we have to preserve constantly.
March 30, 2019
Very relevant to our times. Shamsie has done a great job extracting parts out of Orwell's essays about individual freedom, the significance of freedom and its expression through artistic mediums, freedom of expression in capitalist democracies, etc. A must read for young minds beginning to form ideas about what constitutes freedom and what say the state has in it.
February 12, 2023
Membahas kebebasan menurut pandangan George Orwell. Kumpulan tulisan yang ada di sini diambil dari esai yang pernah terbit di surar kabar, surat untuk orang terdekatnya, dan karya-karya fiksinya, seperti Animal Farm dan 1984. Salah satu yang ia bahas adalah arti kebebasan itu sendiri:
"Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows."
"Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows."
February 25, 2023
i don’t have a clue how to rate this book, because Orwell is a great author, but i don’t think his geniality was truly shown in this collection of fragments from his writings. The edition didn’t really succeeded to show what Orwell wanted to say, except the last 70 pages or something like that.
3.5/5
3.5/5
May 23, 2023
What can we say, Orwell is best at what he does. One thing that I would agree the Kamila shamsie is that orwell's work is in layers. There are parts one might think as mere parts of a fictional stories and then after several attempts you understand the deeper meaning or the message they wanted to convey.
January 13, 2023
Same issues as with Orwell on Truth. Book is full of cut down pieces of Orwell's works. Nothing new. Animal Farm and 1984 is like 30% of the entire book. What's inside is interesting, sure, but what's the point of publishing such book? It's not complete, rare, or new in any way.
January 13, 2025
Great spread of Orwell's work along with letters and essays sharing his thoughts. A great introduction if you're new to his work.
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