Today’s indie press needs no introduction on the Ramblings, as I’ve featured them many times; in fact, I even interviewed Will, the man behind the imprint, for Shiny New Books! They are, of course, Renard Press, purveyors of lovely handbound editions of a really fascinating range of works; and today I want to talk about their recent release of some essays from one of my favourite authors of all time – George Orwell!
Renard have recently issued a lovely set of Orwellian pamphlets, each featuring one of the great man’s essays; and as well as being beautiful objects, they’re a timely reminder of how relevant his writing still is. Renard’s pamphlets are hand bound, each with its own bookmark and with a removeable dustjacket; this is a lovely format, and as well as having decent sized type on quality paper (making it easy to read…), they look rather lovely on the shelves! Onto the essays themselves!
Up first is “Why I Write”, the most fundamental thing an author considers, I suppose. After providing a kind of mini summary of biography, telling of his early attempts at poetry and short stories, Orwell explores the theme of constantly telling a story in his head and covers his development as a writer. He discusses the main motivations for writing, and spells out the importance of the political and the personal meeting in his own works. His politics are as clearly laid out as his writing, and it’s obvious that he feels his best writing is that which has a political as well as artistic purpose.
Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, AGAINST totalitarianism and FOR democratic socialism, as I understand it.
Pamphlet 2 of the Essays features “Politics and the English Language”. This is a fascinating essay, which I’ve read before though possibly haven’t written about; and in it Orwell explores the kind of political language which is, as he says, “designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind”. I’m pretty sure I’ve quoted that from an anthology of his writing before, and he’s spot on. In this world of spin and fake news and the media feeding us constant lies, Orwell’s commentary on the distortion of political language is an essential counterpoint to the nonsense being flung at us from every angle. Quite brilliant.
In our age there is no such thing as ‘keeping out of politics’. All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred and schizophrenia.
The third essay is “The Prevention of Literature”, which I’ve read before in one of my Penguin Great Ideas volumes. It’s a deep and thoughtful discussion of how political regimes affect the literature of their authors, and Orwell is so clear eyed about the effect of totalitarianism on writing, on what can survive during a dictatorship and about the pressures on authors. Interestingly, he thinks poetry has the best chance in a country under tight control, and he may well be right. Lots of food for thought here.
…in England the immediate enemies of truthfulness, and hence of freedom of thought, are the press lords, the film magnates and the bureaucrats…
Pamphlet 4 contains “Politics vs. Literature”, the longest of the four essays, and a really fascinating one. It’s subtitled “An Examination of Gulliver’s Travels”, and in it Orwell takes a close look not only Swift’s great work but also his politics and viewpoints. Despite loving Swift and his book, Orwell is critical of the thinking expressed in the book, even equating Swift with Tolstoy when it comes to both men’s intolerance. Nevertheless, he does feel that despite his disagreement with Swift politically he loves the book, considering it a great work of art; and feels that even if a book expresses a viewpoint with which he disagrees, it can still be good!
Orwell is always a wonderful essayist to read, expressing his arguments so clearly and in such seemingly plain yet actually quite sophisticated language. I have numerous collections of his writings, but somehow reading them in pamphlet form worked quite brilliantly. Not only was I not pressured or overwhelmed by the vast amount of his wisdom waiting to be discovered, the format is a pleasure to read physically, and there is time to pause after finishing each pamphlet to reflect. I don’t know if Renard are planning to issue more Orwell essays like this, but I do hope they do. It’s a wonderful initiative, a great way to visit (or revisit) the great man’s works, and they really *are* going to look pretty on my Orwell shelf… [ You *do* all have an Orwell shelf, don’t you? 😉 ]
Feb 24, 2021 @ 08:30:53
Excellent content in a beautiful package – what’s not to like?! I’m loving #ReadingIndies month, about to publish another review myself and then have one to review and one I MIGHT finish in time …
Feb 24, 2021 @ 09:10:04
Exactly – you can’t go wrong with Orwell in my view!! And such lovely copies. Look forward to see what indies you’ve been reading – there are *so* many great presses!!
Feb 24, 2021 @ 09:28:56
These were a great read, as I’d not read many of his essays. I found them insightful, not only in the subjects covered, but also into the man himself. I don’t have an Orwell shelf to my shame, so I’m having them framed to hang on the wall.
Feb 24, 2021 @ 13:32:18
They really are a great way to approach Orwell and his non-fiction. And I do like the idea of an Orwell wall!! ;D
Feb 24, 2021 @ 13:35:22
Ah. I recall you mentioning Orwell’s essays fairly recently, and here’s your post on them! What a beautiful collection of books, a timely celebration of one of the great thinkers of his day. It’s interesting, isn’t it, how many of these works from the early-mid 20th century still feel so relevant to our lives right now? I think we had this conversation about Rose Macaulay too, another writer whose views were eerily prescient for her time…
Feb 24, 2021 @ 13:41:31
They were the perfect read at the moment, and I’m always shocked when I revisit him at how prescient he was… And yes, Macaulay is the same. Maybe it was just they were very good judges of human nature and could see where things would be going…
Feb 24, 2021 @ 15:21:56
How fantastic are these! I have never been keen on Orwell’s novels, but I adore his essays – they are so well written and thought provoking. And these editions look gorgeous.
Feb 24, 2021 @ 15:35:46
They’re beautiful editions and though I love Orwell’s essays, I do get a bit overfaced when confronted with a chunky collection of them! So this was a lovely way to read them!
Feb 24, 2021 @ 15:29:44
What a lovely collection of books! I wasn’t aware of Orwell’s essays just his novels, but they sound terrific.
Feb 24, 2021 @ 15:36:22
I haven’t read masses of his essays, but the ones I have read have been pithy and wonderful – he so often is spot on! Definitely worth exploring!
Feb 24, 2021 @ 17:20:02
I haven’t read enough Orwell and not these essays but this beautiful series gives me a good, if shallow, excuse!
Feb 24, 2021 @ 18:36:40
LOL! I’m all for a pretty book!
Feb 24, 2021 @ 18:08:13
What a lovely little collection of books, beautifully produced. I have only ever read Orwell’s fiction, though I find him a fascinating character and writer. I might be interested in these myself even though I read little non fiction.
Feb 24, 2021 @ 18:36:28
He’s such an inspirational author for me – I first read him in my teens and his work has been important to me since. This would certainly be a good way to get a little taste of his non-fiction and they’re pretty too!
Feb 24, 2021 @ 19:25:39
I’ve been admiring these beautiful editions with all the photos of them on Twitter and Renard have picked some wonderful Orwell writings to feature. Very understandable why you’d like to see more volumes published.
Feb 24, 2021 @ 21:08:41
I would – such a great selection of essays and so pretty!!
Feb 24, 2021 @ 20:50:10
Oooh, tempting, oh so tempting…
Feb 24, 2021 @ 21:08:23
They really are! ;D
Feb 24, 2021 @ 21:46:20
“The Prevention of Literature” sounds like the “Prevention of Tooth Decay” or “The Prevention of Drunkenness”.
Feb 25, 2021 @ 09:12:50
LOL. It’s a bit more interesting and useful than those titles would be though…
Feb 24, 2021 @ 22:15:14
These are brilliant!🐧🌹
Feb 25, 2021 @ 09:12:28
They are – and they fulfil the criteria of being both beautiful AND useful!! ;D
Feb 25, 2021 @ 04:18:03
I have read all of these, but I still want those editions. They are gorgeous!
Feb 25, 2021 @ 09:11:59
They are! And would definitely make you want to return to Orwell!!!
Feb 25, 2021 @ 23:00:08
I echo what others have said — what wonderful cover designs!! A good book is a good book in any cover, buuuuuut I still say that if it can also be a thing of beauty in its own right, then that’s even better!
Feb 26, 2021 @ 10:17:49
They’re stunning, aren’t they? And yes – beautiful and useful seems to be Renard’s mantra, and these are definitely both!
Feb 26, 2021 @ 19:44:08
Ribbons. Ribbons. Ribbons. Oh my, how I LOVE a book with a ribbon to use as a marker. Even though I’ve likely not read all the Orwell that I should, or all that I would enjoy, I would love to read and pet these editions.
Feb 26, 2021 @ 21:18:29
Ribbons are great, aren’t they? I look a book with its own marker, and these are just lovely (good contents too….!)
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