George Orwell: Son, scholar, policeman, author, journalist, husband, father, soldier...
All of the Above
Blair's Boyhood
Originally born in the city of Motihari in India, Blair moved to England with his mother and sister at the age of one. He later commented on his living standards in his book, The Road to Wigan Pier, as being ‘..lower-upper-middle class.’ (Orwell, 1937). As a youth, Blair was able to attend highly regarded educational institutions due to his academic achievements. Blair even received a scholarship to go to one of England’s most esteemed schools at the time. On the other hand, certain sources claim that Blair achieved low grades and was disliked by his teachers, who thought him disrespectful. (Wikipedia, n.d.).
Early Career Paths
After studying at Eton College, Blair enrolled to become a policeman for the Indian Imperial Police Force in Burma, but soon quit his job and returned to England in 1928. During the years ahead, Blair began writing for the New Adelphi, an English literary journal. In 1933, he established his pen name, which indicated his compassion towards all things English. ‘George is the patron saint of England (and George V was monarch at the time), while the River Orwell in Suffolk was one of his most beloved English sites.‘ (Jones, 1984).
Spanish Civil War Involvement & Success of Works
Orwell published his first book in 1934 entitled Burmese Days, which reflected his disregard towards the imperial system he experienced during his time as a policeman in Burma. In 1936, Orwell married his first wife Eileen O'Shaughnessy, a customs collector, and together they adopted one son. In 1938, Orwell volunteered himself in the Spanish Civil War, fighting as a foot soldier on behalf of a Trotskyist party, the Workers' Party Marxist Unification. It was during his involvement in the war that his inspiration for Animal Farm began to spark, and by 1945 he published the satirical fairy story, which received much popularity. During that same year, Orwell's wife, O'Shaughnessy, passed away while undergoing an operation. From the success of Animal Farm, Orwell earned a good income and was on his feet economically. In 1949, after having spent time working for the Manchester Evening News, Orwell published his next bestseller, the dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. That year, Orwell married his second wife Sonia Brownell. They were only married three months before Orwell lost his life to tuberculosis at age 46.
Orwell's works, especially Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four, are still read and studied to this day. The American magazine Newsweek deemed Orwell '..the finest journalist of his day and the foremost architect of the English essay since Hazlitt.'
Orwell's works, especially Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four, are still read and studied to this day. The American magazine Newsweek deemed Orwell '..the finest journalist of his day and the foremost architect of the English essay since Hazlitt.'