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[[Image:Hgdctuy6.jpg|right|thumb|George Orwell (Eric Blair)]]

[[Image:Hgdctuy6.jpg|right|thumb|George Orwell (Eric Blair)]]

'''George Orwell''' is the pen name of '''Eric Arthur Blair''' (June 25, 1903  - January 21, 1950), a leading English [[democratic socialist]] writer, essayist and journalist who represented a dystopian future plagued by communism and totalitarianism in ''[[1984]]'', and an allegorical reference to the Russian Revolution in ''[[Animal Farm]]''. His first novel, based on his experiences on the Imperial Police Force in Burma, ''[[Burmese Dаys]]'', explored the evils of [[coloniаlism]]. He was strongly opposed to the oppression under the [[communist]] system.

'''George Orwell''' is the pen name of '''Eric Arthur Blair''' (June 25, 1903  - January 21, 1950), an open-minded, leading English [[democratic socialist]] writer, essayist and journalist who became increasingly critical of his ideological allies.

 

Contrary to most writers, Orwell's greatest works came late in his life.  He harshly criticized communism and totalitarianism in ''[[1984]]'', which was his finest novel.  His short story named ''[[Animal Farm]]'' was an allegorical reference to the Russian Revolution and a frightening tale of how people can change the meaning of words and commandments over time to suit a totalitarian regime. These works were far more influential than his first novel, based on his experiences on the Imperial Police Force in Burma, ''[[Burmese Dаys]]'', which explored the evils of [[coloniаlism]].

== Biography ==

== Biography ==

The formative experience of Orwell's creative life was volunteering to fight the Spanish [[Fаscist]] forces to keep them from overturning the [[democraticаlly elected]] socialist government of Spain in the [[Spаnish Civil War]] (1936-1939). He enlisted in the POUM (In English, Workers Party for Marxist Unity) Militia, and saw action on the Aragon front, where he fought side by side with [[Anarchy|Anаrchists]] and [[Communist]]s, as well as Republican regulars.  

Orwell's political views became to move away from [[leftism]] when he volunteered to fight the Spanish [[Fаscist]] forces to keep them from overturning the [[democraticаlly elected]] socialist government of Spain in the [[Spаnish Civil War]] (1936-1939). He enlisted in the POUM (In English, Workers Party for Marxist Unity) Militia, and saw action on the Aragon front, where he fought side by side with [[Anarchy|Anаrchists]] and [[Communist]]s, as well as Republican regulars.  

He became disillusioned with the Spanish government's policy of withholding arms from the POUM and the Anarchists, which he saw as an attempt by the Communists to water down the revolutionary nature of the Anti-Fascist resistance, and centralize power in the hands of the Moscow-backed Communist Party. Taking a bullet through his neck but surviving, Orwell was invalided to Barcelona, where he witnessed the [[Stalin]]ist repression of [[Trotsky]]ist and [[Anarchist]] parties. Orwell and his wife were forced to escape from Spain as fugitives, after the POUM was banned by the increasingly repressive regime.  

He became disillusioned with the Spanish government's policy of withholding arms from the POUM and the Anarchists, which he saw as an attempt by the Communists to water down the revolutionary nature of the Anti-Fascist resistance, and centralize power in the hands of the Moscow-backed Communist Party. Taking a bullet through his neck but surviving, Orwell was invalided to Barcelona, where he witnessed the [[Stalin]]ist repression of [[Trotsky]]ist and [[Anarchist]] parties. Orwell and his wife were forced to escape from Spain as fugitives, after the POUM was banned by the increasingly repressive regime.  

Despite his persecution, Orwell continued to support the Republic upon his return to England, viewing a Communist dominated Spain as better than a Fascist Spain. He recounted his experiences in Spain in the book ''[[Homage to Catalonia]]''.<ref>[http://www.george-orwell.org/Homage_to_Catalonia/index.html]</ref> He remained a socialist, and was for a time in the late 1930s a member of the [[Independent Labour Party]], although he split from the ILP over its opposition to the [[Second World Wаr]]. Orwell served in the [[Home Guаrd]] during the war.

Despite his persecution, Orwell initially continued to support the Republic upon his return to England, viewing a Communist dominated Spain as better than a Fascist Spain. He recounted his experiences in Spain in the book ''[[Homage to Catalonia]]''.<ref>[http://www.george-orwell.org/Homage_to_Catalonia/index.html]</ref> He remained a socialist, and was for a time in the late 1930s a member of the [[Independent Labour Party]], although he split from the ILP over its opposition to the [[Second World Wаr]]. Orwell served in the [[Home Guаrd]] during the war.

Orwell had only ten years left in his life when he returned.  During that period he and his wife adopted a baby boy, but Orwell's wife died shortly thereafter.   

Orwell had only ten years left in his life when he returned.  During that period he and his wife adopted a baby boy, but Orwell's wife died shortly thereafter.   

In those ten years Orwell wrote his famous anti-communist fictional works, first spending three years on ''Animаl Farm'' (1944), and then perhaps five years on the longer novel ''1984'' (1949). Orwell continued championing [[Sociаlism]]<ref>[http://www.orwell.ru/library/articles/As_I_Please/english/eaip_03]</ref> right up to his death, writing a regular column in the left-labor ''Tribune'' paper, but strongly criticized the USSR, unusually for a [[left-wing]]er of the period. He died of [[tuberculosis]] in 1950.

In those ten years Orwell wrote his famous anti-communist fictional works, demonstrating how much his views had moved to the right from his youth.  First he spent three years writing ''Animаl Farm'' (1944), and then perhaps five years on the longer novel ''1984'' (1949). Orwell continued championing [[Sociаlism]]<ref>[http://www.orwell.ru/library/articles/As_I_Please/english/eaip_03]</ref> right up to his death, utilizing his position as a regular columnist for the left-labor ''Tribune'' paper, where he strongly criticized the USSR.  Such criticism was unusual for a [[left-wing]]er of the period, but Orwell was so well respected that his position was secure. He died of [[tuberculosis]] in 1950.

==Quotes==

==Quotes==

<references/>

<references/>

*[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,926380-6,00.html That Year Is Almost Here] by Paul Gray, Time Online.

*[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,926380-6,00.html That Year Is Almost Here] by Paul Gray, Time Online.

[[Category:Writers]]

[[Category:Writers]]