George Orwell during his time as a radio broadcaster with the Eastern Service of the BBC
Eric Arthur Blair was born on the twenty-fifth of June, 1903, in British India to Ida Mabel Blair and Richard Walmesley Blair. He moved to England at a young age and received a scholarship to St. Cyprian's School, where he would further his interest in literature and improve his writing skills. At the age of 16 he went to Eton college, where he would come into contact with famous author Aldous Huxley and would begin writing for newspapers. For much of his time at Eton, he disliked the experience. He chose to not apply to a college, a decision he would later deeply regret, and instead joined the Indian Imperial Police.
For five years he served in Burma. He was disgusted by how the Burmese were treated and was appalled at the relationship between the colonizers and those who were colonized. He quit the force to continue his writing. His experience in Burma would stick with him forever, and in 1934 he would document his experience in his novel Burmese days. He moved to Europe and lived amongst the poor for several years.
Having seen the class separations and injustices in the world, Orwell wrote about his experiences and hoped to make a change. In his novel Wigan Pier, he documents the suffering of the working class. Orwell was an avid socialist and hoped to combat injustice where he saw it; though his socialist ideals would make it difficult for him to publish many of his novels.
In 1936, Orwell took up arms for the socialist cause, along with his equally eager newly-wed wife, fighting for the POUM against fascists. While in Spain, Orwell was shot in the neck and developed a disliking for Stalin after he betrayed the POUM. Orwell's experiences in the Spanish Civil War are documented in his novel Homage to Catalonia, widely considered an accurate portrayal of the war in Spain by historians.
Disgusted by Stalin's betrayal of socialists in Spain, Orwell returned to England as the war came to an end. However, he found a second opportunity to fight fascism. Following the outbreak of World War Two, he applied to join the military, but was rejected due to poor health.
Instead, Orwell worked as a radio operator with the BBC in India. While he disliked British Imperialism in India, Orwell considered it the lesser of two evils. India would not be free if conquered by Imperial Japan or Nazi Germany. Orwell began to plan 1984 while working as a radio operator. The use of language as tools of propaganda during the war time and the shortening of words to dilute meaning and manipulate people were the basis for Newspeak. The dreary canteens and the poor food of the BBC were the influence for the lunch scenes in 1984. As well, Russian involvement in WW2 would be represented by an analogy for his novel Animal Farm in 1945.
After the war, Orwell retreated to the island of Jura in Scotland, where he would write most of 1984. His wife passed away and Orwell was left to raise their son. He was devastated, but was able to find comfort through his work. After the success of Animal Farm and 1984 in 1949, George Orwell was finally a successful author. However, his health was deteriorating rapidly due to tuberculosis. He died after an artery burst in his lungs, only months after his marriage to Sonia Brownwell.
For five years he served in Burma. He was disgusted by how the Burmese were treated and was appalled at the relationship between the colonizers and those who were colonized. He quit the force to continue his writing. His experience in Burma would stick with him forever, and in 1934 he would document his experience in his novel Burmese days. He moved to Europe and lived amongst the poor for several years.
Having seen the class separations and injustices in the world, Orwell wrote about his experiences and hoped to make a change. In his novel Wigan Pier, he documents the suffering of the working class. Orwell was an avid socialist and hoped to combat injustice where he saw it; though his socialist ideals would make it difficult for him to publish many of his novels.
In 1936, Orwell took up arms for the socialist cause, along with his equally eager newly-wed wife, fighting for the POUM against fascists. While in Spain, Orwell was shot in the neck and developed a disliking for Stalin after he betrayed the POUM. Orwell's experiences in the Spanish Civil War are documented in his novel Homage to Catalonia, widely considered an accurate portrayal of the war in Spain by historians.
Disgusted by Stalin's betrayal of socialists in Spain, Orwell returned to England as the war came to an end. However, he found a second opportunity to fight fascism. Following the outbreak of World War Two, he applied to join the military, but was rejected due to poor health.
Instead, Orwell worked as a radio operator with the BBC in India. While he disliked British Imperialism in India, Orwell considered it the lesser of two evils. India would not be free if conquered by Imperial Japan or Nazi Germany. Orwell began to plan 1984 while working as a radio operator. The use of language as tools of propaganda during the war time and the shortening of words to dilute meaning and manipulate people were the basis for Newspeak. The dreary canteens and the poor food of the BBC were the influence for the lunch scenes in 1984. As well, Russian involvement in WW2 would be represented by an analogy for his novel Animal Farm in 1945.
After the war, Orwell retreated to the island of Jura in Scotland, where he would write most of 1984. His wife passed away and Orwell was left to raise their son. He was devastated, but was able to find comfort through his work. After the success of Animal Farm and 1984 in 1949, George Orwell was finally a successful author. However, his health was deteriorating rapidly due to tuberculosis. He died after an artery burst in his lungs, only months after his marriage to Sonia Brownwell.