Here is a detailed biography of George Orwell, the acclaimed British writer and journalist:
Full Name
Eric Arthur Blair (pen name: George Orwell)
Early Life
- Born: June 25, 1903, in Motihari, Bengal Presidency, British India
- Died: January 21, 1950 (aged 46), in London, England
- Parents: Richard Walmesley Blair (a civil servant) and Ida Mabel Blair
- Siblings: Two (including older sister Marjorie)
Education
- Attended St Cyprian’s School in Sussex
- Won a scholarship to Eton College (1917–1921), where he was taught by Aldous Huxley
- Did not attend university; instead, he joined the Indian Imperial Police in Burma in 1922
Career & Writing Journey
Early Writings
- Resigned from the police in 1927 to become a writer
- Lived in poverty in Paris and London; this experience informed his first major work:
- Down and Out in Paris and London (1933)
Major Works
| Year | Title | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 1937 | The Road to Wigan Pier | Exposé on working-class life in Northern England |
| 1938 | Homage to Catalonia | Memoir of his experience fighting in the Spanish Civil War |
| 1945 | Animal Farm | Satirical allegory of the Russian Revolution |
| 1949 | Nineteen Eighty-Four | Dystopian novel warning of totalitarianism and mass surveillance |
Themes
Orwell’s writing often focused on:
- Totalitarianism
- Surveillance and censorship
- Class inequality
- Truth vs. propaganda
Political Views
- Originally a democratic socialist
- Strong critic of authoritarianism on both the left and right
- Deeply affected by his disillusionment with Stalinism after witnessing events during the Spanish Civil War
Personal Life
- Married Eileen O’Shaughnessy in 1936 (she died in 1945)
- Adopted a son, Richard Blair
- Suffered from tuberculosis for much of his life
- Married Sonia Brownell shortly before his death in 1950
Legacy
- “George Orwell” has become synonymous with critiques of oppressive governments
- Phrases like “Big Brother,” “doublethink,” and “thoughtcrime” originated from his work
- Nineteen Eighty-Four remains one of the most influential books of the 20th century
Quick Facts
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Eric Arthur Blair |
| Pen Name | George Orwell |
| Born | June 25, 1903 |
| Died | January 21, 1950 |
| Occupation | Novelist, essayist, journalist |
| Famous For | Animal Farm, 1984 |
| Nationality | British |
| Political Views | Democratic socialist, anti-authoritarian |