Having just read Down and Out in Paris and London, I can say that despite the harsh reality of modern working class life, it is so much better than George had it during his pre-famous-writer-days. Does anyone who works sixteen hours a day six days a week and still have to live in one room and share a bed with one person and thousands of bugs? Not as much as they used to. Life was an endless struggle against cold and hunger in his Paris days. Sixteen hour days at the hotel consumed his life for almost a year. The lure of home brought Orwell back to England and saw him living as a tramp. He finally stayed with his sister and wrote the now legendary book. From there he went on to work at the BBC, later becoming a world famous writer who inspired many generations.
In many ways, he was ahead of his time. Not only did he accurately predict the security hysteria that fascist governments around the world employ to undermine liberty, as well as their methods of propaganda, he foretold the actions of today's twenty and thirty-somethings by laughing in the face of property ownership. He moved back home as increasing numbers of recently graduated students are doing. He lived for the moment, remaining true to his convictions even though it made his life difficult and cost him health, wealth and longevity.
To French red wine, Spanish white wine, English beer and strong tea.
No comments:
Post a Comment