June 25, 1903 – January 21, 1950

“Each generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.”

Real name Eric Arthur Blair Born in India – mother moved him to

England when he was 1 Family was “lower-upper-middle class” Raised in company of mother & 2 sisters

– only saw his father once between 1905-1912 (worked in India)

“Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”

Family moved to Shiplake

Attended parish school ages 6-8

Arrangements made to attend school on scholarship (family couldn’t afford it)

Started writing at school but unhappy there

Writing was praised & earned him scholarships to Wellington & Eton

“Early in life I had noticed that no event is ever correctly reported in a newspaper.”

Had poor academic performance at Eton – unable to obtain another scholarship

Instead was decided he would join Indian Imperial Police because had romantic ideas about the East

Chose to go to Burma where grandmother lived

Contracted a fever in 1927 – allowed to return to England & decided to quit Burma police to become a writer

Days from Burma were inspiration for a novel & 2 essays “A Hanging” (1931) “Shooting an Elephant”

(1936) Burmese Days (1934)

Moved to Paris Wrote mostly short stories

but had trouble getting them published

Resorted to working menial jobs

“Dickens is one of those authors who are well worth stealing.”

Moved back to London – spent time living with various friends & relatives & teaching at a small private school

Continued to write – mostly of his experiences, particularly his “outings” into poorer life of England

1933 – Published Down and Out in Paris and London under nom de plume George Orwell

“During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.”

Teaching career ended after caught pneumonia in 1934A Clergyman’s

Daughter (1935) based on teaching

At this time was a proponent for socialism & wanted to write for the common man

1936 – married Eileen O’ShaughnessyAdopted son in 1944

– Richard Horatio

Spanish Civil War- when broke out he and wife wanted to fight for Spanish gov’t – barely escaped w/lives in 1937

“All the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting.”

WWII – Joined Home Guard & worked in broadcasting with BBC (propaganda efforts to garner support from Indians & East Asians)

Wife died in 1945 1945 – attempting to

publish Animal Farm (anti-Stalinist allegory) – held until after war ended Had worldwide success

“In our time political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible.”

Over next 4 years, was journalist & article writer for magazines while working on 1984 (1949)

1949 – married Sonia Bronwell

Same year – admitted to sanatorium for tuberculosis (suffered from it for past few years)

Died suddenly January 21, 1950

“But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.”

Writing has inspired many other works & adaptations

Animal Farm and 1984 by far best known Also contributed many concepts, words &

phrases to present day language - Orwellian

Devoted much of life and works to various causes critical of capitalism, imperialism, fascism & Stalinism

Master of wit & satire – critically observed politics of his time & envisioning future

1984 – published in 1949– “Big Brother is watching you.” Dystopian novel - focuses

on repressive, totalitarian regime

Famous for portrayal of pervasive government surveillance & control, lack of rights for individual, ideas about society

Originally titled The Last Man in Europe – much speculation about meaning of title 1984

Much of society in novel based on Stalin’s Soviet Union

Also parallels parts of life from both World Wars

World of 1984