Inside George Orwell

Orwell would again attempt to fight the fascists at the onset of WWII, but still battling ill-health, would be turned away. As a second option, Orwell took a position as program director for the BBC's Indian bureau. This job would prove crucial to Orwell's later work as it gave him the opportunity to see the inner-workings of propaganda and learn how it is disseminated to the public, in particular concerning what information is announced, and what kept hidden. His time at the BBC would give him many of the ideas that appear later in "1984".

Battling his own ill-health, Orwell would be hit with another major tragedy during the war when his wife Eileen died of complications from surgery. While many critics accuse Orwell of misogyny, Eileen had a major impact on his life and writing, particularly on the early stages of "Animal Farm". Eileen's loss would have a tremendous effect on Orwell , delivering a devastating blow to an already weakened man.

Good news would follow shortly as "Animal Farm" was released to wide praise, putting Orwell at the forefront of the literary world, and allowing him the opportunity to live off the earnings from his writing for the first time. But as with any Orwell story, the good was always accompanied by the bad, as the book was widely misinterpreted as an unabashed attack on Communism, rather than the critique on Stalinism and totalitarianism, which it was intended to be. Orwell was disheartened by the misreading, particularly so when he learned that the book was being used by the Right as propaganda.

With his health on a continuing decline, and an increasing paranoia that he was going to become the victim of communist enemies, Orwell retired to the Scottish island of Jura to concentrate on what would be his final manuscript - "1984". Despite being diagnosed with tuberculosis, and strict orders from his doctor that he should remain inactive, Orwell attempted to continue his life undeterred, working full time on the manuscript. This would take its toll on Orwell who would find himself constantly lapsing into serious bouts with the disease leaving him bedridden and immobile. This sense of helplessness certainly had a major influence on Winston Smith, the sickly protagonist in "1984", whom Orwell would pit against what he saw as humanity's greatest foe, a government who had complete control over the past, present, and future.

If any reader wonders why decades after Orwell's final work had been published, and with several Orwell biographies already in print, authors like Bowker continue to research George Orwell, they need look no further than "1984". Orwell's tale of a government grown too-strong, is more poignant today than ever. In an era where we find ourselves increasingly at the liberty of governments that are willing to impinge on personal rights under the guise that control equals safety, and more control means more safety, "1984" offers a wonderful insight as to why this can be a dangerous road to travel.