George Orwell
English Rebel
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George Orwell
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Narrated by:
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John Lee
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By:
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Robert Colls
About this listen
An intellectual who did not like intellectuals, a socialist who did not trust the state, a writer of the left who found it easier to forgive writers of the right, a liberal who was against free markets, a Protestant who believed in religion but not in God, a fierce opponent of nationalism who defined Englishness for a generation. Aside from being one of the greatest political essayists in the English language and author of two of the most famous books in 20th century literature, George Orwell was a man of many fascinating contradictions, someone who liked to go against the grain because he believed that was where the truth usually lay. George Orwell: English Rebel takes us on a journey through the many twists and turns of Orwell's life and thought, from the precocious public school satirist at Eton and the imperial policeman in Burma, through his early years as a rather dour documentary writer, down and out on the streets of Paris and London and on the road to Wigan pier, to his formative experiences as a volunteer soldier in the Spanish Civil War. Above all, the audiobook skilfully traces Orwell's gradual reconciliation with his country, a journey which began down a coal mine in 1936 to find its exhilarating peaks during the dark days of the Second World War.
©2013 Robert Colls (P)2014 Audible, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about George Orwell
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- P Garbett
- 29-01-17
Not a biography of Orwell.
What did you like most about George Orwell?
Some years ago I read the excellent biography of Orwell by Bernard Crick, published in 1980. I anticpated this book would present the findings of scholarship in the intervening years. In part it did, particularly with regards to material on Eileen Blair, Orwell / Eric Blair's first wife. The book though clearly was conceived as a literary essay, which then formed the basis of this book. Therefore, if you want a biography of Orwell there are far better books that this. If you are familiar already with Orwell's life, this book is not without merit. Orwell's Englishness and his conception of England is an interesting approach to understanding this brilliant and yet often contradictory of writers. More so perhaps at this time, post Brexit, when once more the concept of Englishness and what it is that defines this nation is to the fore.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- GC
- 07-07-14
New Biography of a Great English Writer
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
I would recommend this book to anybody with an interest in George Orwell.
What did you like best about this story?
This doesn't replace Michael Sheldon's biography, but, rather, supplements it. If you have already read the Sheldon biography, this book is still worth reading/listening to; if you haven't read Sheldon this book is a decent substitute.
What does John Lee bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
John Lee is a competent narrator, but as this is a non-fiction book the narration isn't particularly important.
If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
I very much doubt that this book will ever be made in to a film.
Any additional comments?
If you've read (or listened) to 1984 or Animal Farm, this book is a good survey of Orwell's life and work.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Mike Aherne
- 20-07-15
Interesting but narrator distracting
Would you try another book written by Robert Colls or narrated by John Lee?
No. It sounded as if the book was being sight read.
Would you recommend George Orwell to your friends? Why or why not?
Only if they were very interested in Orwell.
How could the performance have been better?
Preparation.
Could you see George Orwell being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?
no.
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