A life in letters

"Appearing for the first time in one volume, these trenchant letters tell the eloquent narrative of Orwell's life in his own words. From his school days to his tragic early death, George Orwell, who never wrote an autobiography, chronicled the dramatic events of his turbulent life in a profusion of powerful letters. Indeed, one of the twentieth century's most revered icons was a lively, prolific correspondent who developed in rich, nuanced dispatches the ideas that would influence generations of writers and intellectuals. This historic work--never before published in America and featuring many previously unseen letters--presents an account of Orwell's interior life as personal and absorbing as readers may ever see. Over the course of a lifetime, Orwell corresponded with hundreds of people, including many distinguished political and artistic figures. Witty, personal, and profound, the letters tell the story of Orwell's passionate first love that ended in devastation and explains how young Eric Arthur Blair chose the pseudonym "George Orwell." In missives to luminaries such as T.S. Eliot, Stephen Spender, Arthur Koestler, Cyril Connolly, and Henry Miller, he spells out his literary and philosophical beliefs. Readers will encounter Orwell's thoughts on matters both quotidian (poltergeists and the art of playing croquet) and historical--including his illuminating descriptions of war-shattered Barcelona and pronouncements on bayonets and the immanent cruelty of chaining German prisoners ... Meticulously edited and fully annotated by Peter Davison, the world's preeminent Orwell scholar, the volume presents Orwell "in all his varieties" and his relationships with those most close to him, especially his first wife, Eileen. Combined with rare photographs and hand-drawn illustrations, George Orwell: A Life in Letters offers "everything a reader new to Orwell needs to know ... and a great deal that diehard fans will be enchanted to have" (New Statesmen)."--Publisher's description.

"Letters collected from The Complete Works of George Orwell, edited by Peter Davison, OBE."--Title page verso.

Originally published: London : Harvill Secker, 2010.

Introduction -- From pupil to teacher to author: 1911/1933 -- Publishing, Wigan and Spain: 1934/1938 -- From Morocco to the BBC: 1938/1941 -- The BBC and the War: 1941/1943 -- Journalism and the death of Eileen: 1943/1945 -- Jura: 1946 and 1947 -- Hairmyres and Jura: 1948 -- Cranham, University College Hospital, and Orwell's death: 1949/1950 -- New textual discoveries.