A timely biography and comment

Whether or not you actually read 1984 you will still learn a lot from this book, about why alternative facts and lyong leaders make many people upset. Recommended!

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An ambitious work

This is a an enormous research project that goes well beyond the book 1984. It is a study of Orwell the man , his life ,relationships and political motivations. Dorian Lynskey pulls many threads together and it’s his desire to be comprehensive that makes the structure quite loose. He covers the life and times, examines literary parallels and influences and the whole tradition of political dystopian fiction. He writes passionately but remains balanced and alert to the contradictions in Orwell’s writing & character.
It’s a serious piece of scholarship.
The reading is resonant and a bit theatrical. It’s well read but sometimes the narrator overdoes it.
A delightful chapter looks at the many hopeless attempts to exploit the book’s fame commercially and in popular culture. A sobering postscript looks at our own times in the light of Orwell’s warnings.

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Very informative

The narratation is very dramatic. The historical context is very well researched. This book will especially interest literature lovers because there are so many references to Orwell's litereray influences, especially Aldous Huxley.

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fascinating book,!

loved it . really enjoyed both halves the life of Orwell and the historic interpretation of the book 1984 and its impact

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The story of a book and an idea

Excellent and well thought out story of one of the most important books of the 20th century. When Trump talks about his warm welcome in Britain to 'cheering crowds' and about 'alternative truths' you know we need George Orwell like never before! It kills off a few of the myths around the title 1984 and gives you a good understanding of the man who wrote it. W

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3 people found this helpful

Fascinating 'connect the dots' history

Unexpectedly fascinating 'connect the dots' history of the creation of a masterpiece.

This caught me up throughout in its breaking down of Orwell's own history and background, weaving together the threads that would become his magnum opus.

In two parts, we see how Orwell's life, his meetings with others, seeing wars and Communist revolutions, his work in propaganda, rivalry with writers, illnesses, all fed into the mind of the man who would create 'Nineteen Eighty Four'.

The second part looks at the book's effect on future films and books, music and culture in general, which was just as compelling a listen as its inception. It brings us right up to date with references to the Trump administration, and made me consider books and films I know and how they have been influenced.

'Behind the scenes' is always an enthralling genre for me, seeing how an author creates, but here the extra dimension of what came after, both for the book itself and its impact on the Western world since.

Well narrated, it was not difficult to follow as an audiobook. I'd recommend this method of connecting with the material.

With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.

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1 person found this helpful

Outstanding book and essential companion to 1984

I was so impressed with this book. It is everything I hoped for, shedding valuable insight and context to the George Orwell novel 1984. It is a true companion piece narrated by the very same person who did a great job of the audio version available on audible. Indeed it reads like a thriller in places and offers insight into the writing and significance of the work in the decades leading up to the publication and into the current era. I found it fascinating in its depth and was grateful for the clarity of is subject matter. A brilliant piece for any student of the text and such an entertaining and illuminating read. What is impressive is how the author brilliantly shows how the work resonates today and how the powerful elite use various ways to control and manipulate the masses. It outlines the depth and themes of the novel and the thinking and works that inspired Orwell himself. Really wonderful and so worth a credit. If you have an interest in the book, or an interest in the author or the political themes that drove Orwell then this is highly recommended.

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5 people found this helpful

insightful look at the man and book~☆

This has been an interesting look into life and writings of George Orwell, and his peers.
The narration was especially good.

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Engaging

Very informative on George and 1984. Well written really enjoyed it. Great just after reading the book.

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By far the best Orwell biography I have ever read

Very insightful and revealing of a very complex character, who constantly gave up limiting beliefs in exchange for better ones. An excellent crtitic of the world and of self, Orwell is my favourite write. Period.

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