George Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair arrived in the world on the 25th of June 1903 within a house in Motihari, Bengal Presidency. His family belonged to what he called the lower-upper-middle class. His great-great-grandfather Charles Blair owned two Jamaican plantations and was a wealthy slave-owning country gentleman from Dorset. The grandfather Thomas Richard Arthur Blair served as an Anglican clergyman. Eric's father worked as a Sub-Deputy Opium Agent for the Indian Civil Service. He oversaw the production and storage of opium destined for sale to China. His mother Ida Mabel Limouzin grew up in Moulmein, Burma. Her French father Francis Limouzin engaged in speculative ventures while her English mother came from a family with a tradition of Imperial service. Eric had two sisters named Marjorie and Avril. When Eric turned one year old his mother took him and Marjorie back to England. They settled at Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire during 1904. He did not see his father again until 1912. At age five Eric attended a Catholic convent school run by French Ursuline nuns. His mother wanted him to attend a public school despite their limited funds. He won a scholarship to St Cyprian's School in Eastbourne through social connections. He boarded there for five years starting in September 1911. He soon recognized that he came from a poorer home than his peers. Blair hated the school and later wrote an essay called Such Such Were the Joys about it. He met Cyril Connolly there who became a writer and editor. Before the First World War the family moved south to Shiplake in Oxfordshire. There Eric became friendly with the Buddicom family especially Jacintha. They read poetry together and dreamed of becoming famous writers. Blair also enjoyed shooting fishing and birdwatching with Jacintha's siblings. He published two poems in the Henley and South Oxfordshire Standard while at St Cyprian's. He earned scholarships to Wellington and Eton but none were immediately available. He stayed at St Cyprian's until December 1916 hoping for a place at Eton. In January 1917 he took up a place at Wellington before moving to Eton in May 1917. He remained at Eton until December 1921 leaving midway between his eighteenth and nineteenth birthdays. His principal tutor was A. S. F. Gow who gave him advice later in his career. He studied French under Aldous Huxley. Steven Runciman noted that Blair and his contemporaries appreciated Huxley's linguistic flair. Blair neglected his studies but worked on college magazines like The Election Times. His parents could not afford university without another scholarship so they decided he should join the Imperial Police.
Blair sailed from England aboard the SS Herefordshire in October 1922 to join the Indian Imperial Police in Burma. He arrived at Rangoon one month later and traveled to the police training school in Mandalay. On the 29th of November 1922 he was appointed an Assistant District Superintendent on probation with a monthly pay of Rs. 525. After a short posting at Maymyo he moved to the frontier outpost of Myaungmya in the Irrawaddy Delta at the beginning of 1924. Working as an imperial police officer gave him considerable responsibility while most of his contemporaries were still at university in England. When posted farther east to Twante as a sub-divisional police officer he was responsible for the security of some 200,000 people. At the end of 1924 he moved to Syriam near Rangoon where the Burmah Oil Company refinery stood. The surrounding land was a barren waste killed by fumes of sulphur dioxide pouring out day and night from the stacks. Blair went into the city often to browse bookshops or eat well-cooked food away from the boring routine of police life. In September 1925 he went to Insein home of Insein Prison. By this time he received a monthly salary of Rs. 740 including allowances. He recalled facing hostility from the Burmese people sneering yellow faces that met him everywhere. He felt stuck between his hatred of the empire he served and rage against the evil-spirited little beasts who tried to make his job impossible. Blair acquired a reputation as an outsider spending much time alone reading or attending churches of the Karen ethnic group. A colleague Roger Beadon recalled that Blair learned the language fast enough to speak fluently with Burmese priests in very high-flown Burmese before leaving. He made changes to his appearance that remained for the rest of his life including adopting a pencil moustache similar to other British officers stationed there. He also acquired some tattoos on each knuckle small untidy blue circles believed to protect against bullets and snake bites. In April 1926 he moved to Moulmein where his maternal grandmother lived. At the end of that year he was assigned to Katha in Upper Burma where he contracted dengue fever in 1927. Entitled to leave England due to illness he returned in July. While on holiday with his family in Cornwall in September 1927 he reappraised his life. Deciding against returning to Burma he resigned from the Indian Imperial Police to become a writer effective from the 12th of March 1928. He drew on his experiences in the Burma police for the novel Burmese Days published in 1934 and essays like A Hanging and Shooting an Elephant.
In England Blair settled back at Southwold renewing acquaintance with local friends and attending an Old Etonian dinner. He visited his old tutor Gow at Cambridge for advice on becoming a writer. In 1927 he moved to London and by the end of that year had rooms in Portobello Road. Ruth Pitter helped him find lodgings and lent it reassuring respectability. She pointed out weaknesses in his poetry and advised him to write about what he knew. He decided to write of certain aspects of the present that he set out to know venturing into the East End of London. In imitation of Jack London whose writing he admired particularly The People of the Abyss he started exploring poorer parts of London. On his first outing he set out to Limehouse Causeway spending his first night in a common lodging house possibly George Levy's kip. For a while he went native dressing like a tramp adopting the name P.S. Burton. He recorded his experiences of low life for use in The Spike his first published essay in English and the second half of Down and Out in Paris and London. In early 1928 he moved to Paris living in rue du Pot de Fer a working class district in the fifth arrondissement. His aunt Ellen Kate Limouzin lived there too giving social and financial support when necessary. He began writing novels including an early version of Burmese Days but nothing else survives from that period. He was more successful as a journalist publishing articles in Monde edited by Henri Barbusse. His first article La Censure en Angleterre appeared on the 6th of October 1928. A Farthing Newspaper printed in G. K.'s Weekly appeared on the 29th of December 1928. Three pieces discussing unemployment tramping and beggars appeared in Le Progrès Civique. Poverty became his obsessive subject at the heart of almost everything he wrote until Homage to Catalonia. He fell seriously ill in February 1929 taken to Hôpital Cochin where medical students were trained. His experiences formed the basis of How the Poor Die published in 1946 though he chose not to identify the hospital. Shortly afterwards all his money was stolen from his lodging house. Whether through necessity or to collect material he undertook menial jobs such as dishwashing in a fashionable hotel on rue de Rivoli later described in Down and Out in Paris and London. In August 1929 he sent The Spike to John Middleton Murry's New Adelphi magazine edited by Max Plowman and Sir Richard Rees. Plowman accepted the work for publication.
Orwell set out for Spain about the 23rd of December 1936 dining with Henry Miller in Paris on the way. Miller told him that going to fight out of obligation was sheer stupidity and English ideas about combating Fascism were baloney. A few days later in Barcelona Orwell met John McNair of the Independent Labour Party Office. The Republican government supported factions including Workers' Party of Marxist Unification POUM anarcho-syndicalist Confederación Nacional del Trabajo CNT and Unified Socialist Party of Catalonia. Orwell joined the POUM after time at Lenin Barracks in Barcelona then went to Aragon Front under Georges Kopp. By January 1937 he was at Alcubierre above sea level in depth of winter. There was very little military action and Orwell shocked by lack of munitions food firewood and other extreme deprivations. With Cadet Corps and police training Orwell quickly made corporal. On arrival of British ILP Contingent three weeks later Orwell and fellow English militiaman Williams sent to Monte Oscuro and Huesca. Meanwhile Eileen handled issues relating to publication of The Road to Wigan Pier before setting out for Spain herself bringing him English tea chocolate and cigars. Orwell spent some days in hospital with poisoned hand having most possessions stolen by staff. He returned to front seeing action in night attack on Nationalist trenches chasing enemy soldier with bayonet bombing rifle position. In April Orwell returned to Barcelona wanting to join International Column approaching Communist friend attached to Spanish Medical Aid. Although not thinking much of Communists Orwell still ready to treat them as friends until soon changed. During Barcelona May Days caught up in factional fighting spending much time on roof with stack of novels encountering Jon Kimche from Hampstead days. Subsequent campaign of lies carried out by Communist press accused POUM of collaborating with fascists dramatic effect on Orwell. Instead joining International Brigades decided return to Aragon Front. Once May fighting over approached by Communist friend asking if still intended transferring to International Brigades. Orwell expressed surprise they should want him because according to Communist press he was fascist. After returning to front wounded in throat by sniper's bullet at height considerably taller than Spanish fighters warned against standing against trench parapet. Unable speak blood pouring mouth carried stretcher to Siétamo loaded ambulance sent to hospital in Lleida recovered sufficiently get up the 27th of May 1937 sent Tarragona two days later POUM sanatorium suburbs Barcelona. Bullet missed main artery barest margin voice barely audible clean shot wound immediately went through process cauterisation. Received electrotherapy treatment declared medically unfit for service. By middle June political situation Barcelona deteriorated POUM painted pro-Soviet Communists Trotskyist organisation outlawed under attack. Members including Kopp arrested others hiding. Orwell and wife under threat lying low breaking cover trying help Kopp finally escaped Spain train. First week July 1937 arrived back Wallington the 13th of July 1937 deposition presented Tribunal Espionage High Treason Valencia charging Orwells rabid Trotskyism agents POUM. Trial leaders POUM and Orwell absence took place Barcelona October November 1938. Observing events French Morocco wrote only by-product Russian Trotskyist trials start every kind lie flagrant absurdities circulated Communist press. Experiences Spanish Civil War gave rise Homage Catalonia published 1938.
At outbreak Second World War Orwell's wife Eileen started working Censorship Department Ministry Information central London staying week family Greenwich. Orwell submitted name Central Register war work nothing transpired returned Wallington late 1939 writing material first collection essays Inside Whale. Next year occupied writing reviews plays films books Listener Time Tide New Adelphi. the 29th of March 1940 long association Tribune began review sergeant account Napoleon retreat Moscow. Beginning 1940 first edition Connolly Horizon appeared providing new outlet work literary contacts. May Orwells took lease flat London Dorset Chambers Chagford Street Marylebone time Dunkirk evacuation death Flanders Laurence O'Shaughnessy caused considerable grief long-term depression. Declared unfit any kind military service Medical Board June soon joined Home Guard shared Tom Wintringham socialist vision People Militia lecture notes instruct platoon members included advice street fighting field fortifications use mortars. Sergeant Orwell recruited Fredric Warburg unit. During Battle Britain spent weekends Warburg new Zionist friend Tosco Fyvel Warburg house Twyford Berkshire. At Wallington worked England Your England London wrote reviews periodicals. Visiting Eileen family Greenwich brought face effects German Blitz bombings. 1940 first worked BBC producer Indian Section broadcaster writer Venu Chitale secretary. Mid-1940 Warburg Fyvel planned Searchlight Books eleven volumes eventually appeared Orwell Lion Unicorn Socialism English Genius published February 1941 first. Early 1941 began write American Partisan Review linking Orwell New York Intellectuals anti-Stalinist contributed Gollancz anthology Betrayal Left written light Molotov Ribbentrop Pact. Applied unsuccessfully job Air Ministry meanwhile still writing reviews books plays met novelist Anthony Powell. Took part radio broadcasts Eastern Service BBC. March Orwells moved seventh-floor flat Langford Court St John Wood while Wallington digging victory planting potatoes. August 1941 finally obtained war work taken full-time BBC Eastern Service supervised cultural broadcasts India counter Nazi Germany propaganda designed undermine imperial links. End August dinner H.G. Wells degenerated row Wells took offence observations Orwell made Horizon article. October Orwell bout bronchitis illness recurred frequently. David Astor looking provocative contributor Observer Sunday newspaper invited Orwell write first article appeared March 1942. Early 1942 Eileen changed jobs work Ministry Food mid-1942 Orwells moved larger flat 10a Mortimer Crescent Maida Vale Kilburn. Late 1942 started writing regularly left-wing weekly Tribune directed Labour MPs Aneurin Bevan George Strauss. March 1943 Orwell's mother died around time told Moore starting work book turned Animal Farm. September 1943 resigned BBC following report confirming fears few Indians listened Malcolm Muggeridge recalls asked Orwell such broadcasts useful Perhaps not said somewhat crestfallen added cheerfully anyway no one pick up broadcasts except short-wave sets cost equivalent Indian labourer earnings over ten years keen concentrate writing Animal Farm. the 24th of November 1943 six days last day service adaptation fairy tale Hans Christian Andersen Emperor New Clothes broadcast genre greatly interested appeared Animal Farms title page. Resigned Home Guard medical grounds I Have Tried Tell Truth p. xv Secker Warburg 2001. November 1943 appointed literary editor Tribune assistant friend Jon Kimche staff until early 1945 writing over 80 book reviews the 3rd of December 1943 started regular personal column As Please still writing reviews magazines including Partisan Review Horizon New York Nation. April 1944 Animal Farm ready publication Gollancz refused considering attack regime Soviet Union crucial ally war similar fate met publishers T.S. Eliot Faber Faber Jonathan Cape agreed take it. Eileen wanted children sterile she may infertile uterine cancer May Orwells opportunity adopt child thanks contacts Eileen sister-in-law Gwen O'Shaughnessy doctor Newcastle upon Tyne. June V-1 flying bomb struck Mortimer Crescent Orwells find somewhere else live. Orwell scrabble rubble books finally managed transfer Wallington carting wheelbarrow. Another blow Cape reversal plan publish Animal Farm decision followed visit Peter Smollett official Ministry Information later identified Soviet agent. Orwells spent time North East near Carlton County Durham dealing adoption boy named Richard Horatio Blair led quiet life Richard Blair not Richard Orwell Shelden 1991 pp. 398 489. September 1944 set home Islington 27b Canonbury Square Baby Richard joined Eileen gave work Ministry Food look family. Secker Warburg agreed publish Animal Farm planned following March appeared print August 1945. By February 1945 David Astor invited Orwell become war correspondent Observer went liberated Paris Germany Austria cities including Cologne Stuttgart never front line under fire followed troops closely sometimes entering captured town within day fall dead bodies lay streets. Some reports published Manchester Evening News while there Eileen hospital hysterectomy had not given much notice operation worries cost expected make speedy recovery died the 29th of March 1945 allergic reaction anaesthetic given. Expected give nine-month-old adopted son did return home then went back Europe returned London cover 1945 general election beginning July. Animal Farm Fairy Story published Britain the 17th of August 1945 America the 26th of August 1946.
Animal Farm particular resonance post-war climate worldwide success made Orwell sought figure next four years mixed journalistic work mainly Tribune Observer Manchester Evening News though contributed many small-circulation political literary magazines writing best-known work Nineteen Eighty-Four published 1949. Leading figure so-called Shanghai Club named restaurant Soho left-leaning émigré journalists among them E.H. Carr Sebastian Haffner Isaac Deutscher Barbara Ward Jon Kimche. Year following Eileen death published around 130 articles selection Critical Essays remaining active various political lobbying campaigns employed housekeeper Susan Watson look after adopted son Islington flat visitors now described bleak. September spent fortnight island Jura Inner Hebrides saw place escape hassle London literary life David Astor instrumental arranging place Jura. Astor family owned Scottish estates area fellow Old Etonian Robin Fletcher property island. Late 1945 early 1946 Orwell made several hopeless unwelcome marriage proposals younger women including Celia Kirwan Ann Popham happened live same block flats Sonia Brownell Connolly coterie Horizon office. Suffered tubercular haemorrhage February 1946 disguised illness. 1945 early 1946 while still living Canonbury Square wrote article British Cookery complete recipes commissioned British Council given post-war shortages parties agreed publish. Sister Marjorie died May. the 22nd of May 1946 set off two-year-old son treated mini-adult live Jura Barnhill abandoned farmhouse without outbuildings located British national grid reference system NR705970. Conditions farmhouse primitive natural history challenge improving place appealed Orwell. Son found later terrified passing tuberculosis hugging kissing concerned interfere bonding child. Returned London late 1946 picked up literary journalism again well-known writer swamped work. Apart visit Jura new year stayed London one coldest British winters record national shortage fuel burnt furniture child toys heavy smog days Clean Air Act 1956 little help health reticent keeping clear medical attention meanwhile cope rival claims publishers Gollancz Warburg publishing rights. Time co-edited collection British Pamphleteers Reginald Reynolds result success Animal Farm expecting large bill Inland Revenue contacted firm accountants advised establish company own copyright receive royalties set service agreement draw salary George Orwell Productions Ltd GOP Ltd set the 12th of September 1947. Left London Jura the 10th of April 1947 July ended lease Wallington cottage Crick 1982 p. 530. Back Jura worked Nineteen Eighty-Four time sister family visited led disastrous boating expedition the 19th of August nearly led loss life trying cross notorious Gulf Corryvreckan gave soaking not good health. December chest specialist summoned Glasgow pronounced Orwell seriously ill week before Christmas 1947 Hairmyres Hospital. Tuberculosis diagnosed request permission import new medicine streptomycin treat Orwell went Aneurin Bevan then Minister Health David Astor helped supply payment began course streptomycin 19 the 20th of February 1948 It Is what I Think p. 274. End July 1948 able return Jura December finished manuscript Nineteen Eighty-Four. January 1949 very weak condition set off sanatorium Cranham Gloucestershire. Streptomycin continued developed toxic epidermal necrolysis rare side effect. Sanatorium Cranham consisted series small wooden chalets huts remote part Cotswolds near Stroud visitors shocked Orwell appearance concerned shortcomings ineffectiveness treatment Friends worried finances comparatively well off writing many friends including Jacintha Buddicom rediscovered him. March 1949 visited Celia Kirwan just started working Foreign Office unit Information Research Department IRD set Labour government publish anti-communist propaganda; Orwell gave list people considered unsuitable IRD authors pro-communist leanings. List published 2003 consisted mainly writers some actors Labour MPs. Further promote Animal Farm IRD commissioned cartoon strips drawn Norman Pett placed newspapers across globe. Received more streptomycin treatment improved slightly repeat dose streptomycin especially after side effect noticed called ill-advised. Then received penicillin presumably treat bronchiectasis doctors knew ineffective against tuberculosis. June 1949 Nineteen Eighty-Four published critical acclaim.
Orwell health continued decline mid-1949 courted Sonia Brownell believed model Julia heroine Nineteen Eighty-Four announced engagement September Shortly afterwards removed University College Hospital London Brownell took charge Orwell affairs attended diligently hospital Friends stated Brownell helped through painful last months life Anthony Powell cheered Orwell up greatly Powell 1977 Infants Spring p. 106 New York Holt Rinehart Winston However others argued attracted primarily fame. September 1949 invited accountant Jack Harrison visit hospital Harrison claimed then asked become director GOP Ltd manage company no independent witness. Wedding took place hospital room the 13th of October 1949 David Astor best man. Further meetings held accountant Harrison Blairs confirmed directors company. Health decline again Christmas Harrison visited later claimed given 25% company. Age 46 suffered pulmonary artery rupture complications tuberculosis died early morning the 21st of January 1950. Requested buried rites Church England nearest convenient cemetery graveyards central London space effort ensure last wishes fulfilled widow appealed friends know church graveyard space. David Astor arranged interred churchyard All Saints Church Sutton Courtenay Andrew Anthony the 11th of May 2003 Orwell Observer years The Observer Review Pages p. 1 the 26th of January 1950. Funeral organised Anthony Powell Malcolm Muggeridge Powell chose hymns All people that earth dwell Guide thou great Redeemer Ten thousand times ten thousand Taylor D.J. Last days Orwell Guardian the 14th of January 2000. Adopted son Richard Horatio Blair brought up Orwell sister Avril legal guardian husband Bill Dunn. 1979 Sonia Brownell brought High Court action Harrison declared intention subdivide 25 per cent share three children Sonia consequence manoeuvre making getting overall control company three times difficult considered strong case becoming increasingly ill eventually persuaded settle out court the 2nd of November 1980 died the 11th of December 1980 aged 62. During most career best known journalism essays reviews columns newspapers magazines books reportage Down Out Paris London describing period poverty cities Road Wigan Pier describing living conditions poor northern England class division generally Homage Catalonia Irving Howe called best English essayist Hazlitt perhaps Dr Johnson Newsweek. Howe considered finest journalist day foremost architect English essay since Hazlitt Modern readers often introduced novelist particularly enormously successful Animal Farm Nineteen Eighty-Four former thought reflect degeneration Soviet Union after Russian Revolution rise Stalinism latter life totalitarian rule. 1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four Ray Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 honoured Prometheus Award contributions dystopian literature 2011 received again Animal Farm. 2003 Nineteen Eighty-Four listed number 8 Animal Farm number 46 BBC Big Read poll 2021 readers New York Times Book Review rated Nineteen Eighty-Four third list best books past 125 years.
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Common questions
When and where was George Orwell born?
Eric Arthur Blair arrived in the world on the 25th of June 1903 within a house in Motihari, Bengal Presidency. His family belonged to what he called the lower-upper-middle class.
Why did George Orwell resign from the Indian Imperial Police?
George Orwell resigned from the Indian Imperial Police to become a writer effective from the 12th of March 1928 after contracting dengue fever in Katha in Upper Burma during 1927. He reappraised his life while on holiday with his family in Cornwall in September 1927 and decided against returning to Burma.
What happened to George Orwell during the Spanish Civil War?
Orwell joined the POUM faction in Spain before being wounded by a sniper's bullet at the Aragon Front in May 1937. He recovered sufficiently to leave the hospital but fled Spain in July 1937 as political persecution targeted members of the POUM organization.
Where did George Orwell write Nineteen Eighty-Four?
George Orwell wrote Nineteen Eighty-Four while living on the island of Jura in the Inner Hebrides starting in late 1945. He moved there to escape London literary life and worked in a primitive farmhouse named Barnhill until finishing the manuscript in December 1948.
How did George Orwell die and when was he buried?
Eric Arthur Blair died early morning the 21st of January 1950 from complications of tuberculosis including pulmonary artery rupture at age 46. His widow Sonia Brownell arranged for him to be interred in the churchyard of All Saints Church Sutton Courtenay on the 26th of January 1950.