George Orwell: A Life in Letters
  • Published: 13 April 2011
  • ISBN: 9780141192635
  • Imprint: Penguin Classics
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 576
  • RRP: $42.99

George Orwell: A Life in Letters

Formats & editions
EBook
25 Aug 2016
Paperback
13 Apr 2011
Hardback
1 Jun 2010
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The first ever paperback publication of Orwell's remarkable letters

Personal as well as political, Orwell's letters offer a fascinating window into the mind of a phenomenal man. We are privy to snatched glimpses of his family life: his son Richard's developing teeth, the death of his wife Eileen, and his own illness. Candid portraits of Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War, his opinions on bayonets, and on the chaining of German prisoners display his magnificent talent as a political writer, and letters to friends and his publisher provide a unique insight into the development and publication of some of the most important novels in the English language. A Life in Letters features previously unpublished material, including letters which shed new light on a love that would haunt him for his whole life, as well as revealing the inspiration for some of his most famous characters. Presented for the first time in a dedicated volume, this selection of Orwell's letters is an indispensible companion to his diaries.
  • Published: 13 April 2011
  • ISBN: 9780141192635
  • Imprint: Penguin Classics
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 576
  • RRP: $42.99
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About the author

George Orwell

George Orwell (1903–1950) is one of England's most famous writers and social commentators. He is the author of the classic political satire Animal Farm and the dystopian masterpiece Nineteen Eighty-Four. He is also well known for his essays and journalism, particularly his works covering his travels and his time fighting in the Spanish Civil War. His writing is celebrated for its piercing clarity, purpose and wit and his books continue to be bestsellers all over the world.

portrait photo of George Orwell

Also by George Orwell

Nineteen Eighty-four
1984
Animal Farm
Why I Write
Notes on Nationalism
Homage to Catalonia
A Clergyman's Daughter
See all

Praise for George Orwell: A Life in Letters

Arouses your warmest sympathy

Daily Mail

A Life in Letters contains nearly everything a reader new to Orwell needs to know about him

DJ Taylor, New Statesman

'Mr Davison's new edition of the letters is compelling...unlike a conventional biography, the character of the subject comes through undiluted.'

Sunday Telegraph

'This is the authentic Orwell voice: wonderfully clear and fresh and forthright'

Mail on Sunday

'the best single-volume selection we could hope for'

Sunday Times

'Orwell: A Life in Letters should take its place beside the five major biographies ... as an indepsensible resource for understanding George Orwell and his times.'

John Rodden