Biography of Orwell

Author: Sun Zhongxu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-11-01
Features: Animal Farm and 1984 have been translated into over 60 languages and have sold more than 40 million copies. Why did this man, who was called "the cold conscience of a generation" by V.S. Pritchett, attract such a wide readership? His literary characteristics—his powerful writing style, moving sincerity, and witty observations—immediately captivated us. His personal qualities—his integrity, idealism, and perseverance—shine through his words like pebbles in a clear stream. Throughout his life, Orwell passionately desired to unite people from different social classes and build a fair society in Britain. This desire earned him respect and also cast a halo around him. Orwell's books are not outdated; we can still see the complexity of the struggles he waged and the great achievements he made. This biography, written using the rich literary and documentary materials from Peter Davison's monumental The Complete Works of George Orwell, also includes 12 new photographs kindly provided by Orwell's family and friends. My own research and interviews, as well as the use of unpublished materials from the Orwell Archive in London, have revealed some new insights, including his tense relationship with his weak and passive father, his role in the social and political upheavals in Burma in the 1920s, his teaching career at two poor schools, his long-standing relationship with literary agent Leonard Moore, and his hard life on the island of Jura.