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Orwell: The Essays

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Orwell: The Essays

By: George Orwell
Narrated by: Peter Noble
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About this listen

A wide-ranging selection of George Orwell's essays, written in the clear-eyed, passionate and uncompromising style that has earned him a reputation as one of Britain's greatest writers.

One of the most thought-provoking and vivid essayists of the 20th century, George Orwell fought the injustices of his time with singular vigour through pen and paper. In this selection of essays, he ranges from reflections on his boyhood schooling and the profession of writing to his views on the Spanish Civil War and British imperialism. The pieces collected here include the relatively unfamiliar and the more celebrated, making it an ideal compilation for both new and dedicated fans of Orwell's work.

The essays included here are:

  • 'A Hanging'
  • 'Anti-Semitism in Britain'
  • 'A Nice Cup of Tea'
  • 'Books vs. Cigarettes'
  • 'Bookshop Memories'
  • 'British Cooking'
  • 'Can Socialists Be Happy?'
  • 'Confessions of a Book Reviewer'
  • 'How the Poor Die'
  • 'In Defence of English Cooking'
  • 'Looking Back on the Spanish War'
  • 'Notes on Nationalism'
  • 'My Country, Right or Left'
  • 'Politics and the English Language'
  • 'Reflections on Gandhi'
  • 'Shooting an Elephant'
  • 'The Decline of the English Murder'
  • 'The Lion and the Unicorn'
  • 'The Moon Under Water'
  • 'Why I Write'
  • 'You and the Atomic Bomb'
Public Domain (P)2021 SNR Audio Essays Literary History & Criticism Nonfiction War Imperialism

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All stars
Most relevant  
Written probably 20 years before I was born, the writer is able transport the reader some of the background of pre war years. Fascinating look at the build up to Second World War and interesting views of an observer with critical outlook on society. Well worth a listen even if not an Orwell fan.

Interesting writing

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A good job by Peter Noble, who has the right tone and strength for Orwell. These essays speak to us from the 1940s with such clarity and there is much to think about for anybody who cares about the evolution of British and European democracy and sees old mistakes being repeated.

Frustrating that this audiobook is only a selection of the essays that appear in the full print and Kindle versions of this collection but what is here is gold.

Excellent delivery

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I enjoyed Animal Farm and the more well known stories that Orwell is famous for but these essays are brilliant, I only wished I had read them years ago whilst I was still at school. Now I begin the search to find more of his books, if you are interested in the English and Englishness our culture and our condition then these essays will provide an incisive insight. Peter noble provides an excellent narration that brings these Essays to life.

This is Orwell at his best.

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Orwell disseminates social commentary with such exactitude that you feel an immediate presence in the situations he is describing. The you expect to in a particularly good novel but these are essays, sometimes about the most mundane subjects that still manage to grip with the force of a vice

This is writing

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Orwell is canon and should be required reading everywhere (chronological relativism aside). That said, hearing his revolutionary ideas read out by what sounded like a constipated old man with a posh accent and annoying intonation almost ruined it for me.

Content vs delivery

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Pleasingly narrated by Peter Noble, who’s smooth tones contain just enough gravel to suggest he sixty a day smoking habits of the author, the book is read with intelligence and empathy; if such a thing is possible in one

Should Be On The National Curriculum

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I finished Essays today and think many of them are easily as good as Orwell’s novels. His qualities as an author are phenomenal, and the seeds of his best work are sprinkled throughout these essays.
The self awareness Orwell exhibits in his essay ‘Why I Write’ is exceptional, and he rightly points out that he is essentially a product of his time and environment. However, I think even though he humbly says that, there are many other authors from that time who simply failed to capture the essence of what was going on around him in such a timeless manner.
He is absolutely my favourite author.

The seeds of 1984 are in these excellent essays!

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Despite the passage of time and change in political circumstances, this book is still interesting and relevant and demonstrates quality writing. The narration doesn’t match the writing.

Still relevant

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Well performed. Might benefit from knowing the year each was written so as to make the context clearer.

Very good intro to Orwell’s early writing.

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Interesting insight into the mind of George Orwell giving a background of his opinions which makes understanding the origins of his novels more understandable. Not the most entertaining listen but I wasn’t expecting it to be however well narrated and educational

Interesting essays from George Orwell

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