Unlike my attempt last year at a Bulgakov Day, this is not something I have unilaterally declared! Instead, it is an official George Orwell day decreed for 21st January to commemorate the date of his death in 1950, by Penguin/The Orwell Estate/The Orwell Prize! I can’t say I’m sorry – Orwell has always been one of my favourite authors and I’m wholly in agreement with those who think he is one of the most important – if not *the* most important – writers of the 20th century.
I was lucky enough to study Orwell’s works at school – we covered “Down and Out in Paris and London”, “Animal Farm” and “1984″ – so I’m forever grateful to my educators for introducing me to the great man’s works.
There are apparently going to be lots of BBC Radio progs too which I shall have to track down!
I shall be celebrating today by reading the little 99p pamphlet of his essay “Politics and the English Language” – about which more thoughts here later!
Jan 21, 2013 @ 09:21:15
A happy George Orwell day to you! I’ve really enjoyed teaching Coming Up for Air and Keep the Aspidistra Flying – and his essays. He’s a great source for learning about the literary hierarchies of the period. He can be so tremendously snotty!
In an essay called ‘Bookshop Memories’ he writes that ‘Dell’s novels, of course, are read solely by women, but by women of all kinds and ages, and not, as one might expect, merely by wistful spinsters and the fat wives of tobacconists. It is not true that men don’t read novels, but it is true that there are whole branches of fiction that they avoid. Roughly speaking, what one might call the average novel – the ordinary, good-bad, Galsworthy-and-water stuff which is the norm of the English novel – seems to exist only for women.’
Jan 21, 2013 @ 09:49:55
Wow! What a coincidence. I was reading this essay last night and that was exactly the quote that leapt out at me!
Happy George Orwell Day! « Reading 1900-1950
Jan 21, 2013 @ 10:06:16
Jan 21, 2013 @ 15:17:57
Here’s an odd coincidence, i didnt know about this day but I just started Burmese Days over the weekend!
Jan 21, 2013 @ 15:30:26
Wow! How about that! Hope you enjoy it – GO is one of my favourite authors!
Jan 21, 2013 @ 22:11:13
I read The Road to Wigan Pier for the classics club readathon at the start of the month and was reminded of just how dubious some of his class-related comments were! I was reminded though by the middle section, where he compared finances between mining families and wrote about working and living with miners, that he was at least there. He might have made some snotty remarks but he got dirty and he showed up so I forgave him. It’s odd they’re celebrating his death though with this day and not his birth.
Jan 22, 2013 @ 08:21:14
Yes, it is weird, isn’t it? At least they’re celebrating him.
I know what you mean about the class thing – he can’t seem to help being middle class and of his time, but as you say, at least he actually went and witnessed what he was writing about (and also had the guts to go and fight in Spain and live rought in Paris and London) – so he deserves kudos in my view!