Misunderstanding the Messenger? A Reappraisal of George Orwell

Misunderstanding the Messenger? A Reappraisal of George Orwell

‘War is peace... Freedom is slavery... Ignorance is strength...’

George Orwell was the famous Protected content British journalist and fiction writer who gave us the world-famous Animal Farm, Protected content , and Homage To Catalonia, amongst many other titles. These three books continue to sell very well today and so many quotes from his work have entered general discourse, yet often the context his quotations are used in confuses or distorts what Orwell intended.

Looking primarily at the three books referred to above, this talk proposes the theory that our conventional or mainstream understanding of George Orwell and what he meant when he was writing, as well as the real targets of his savage criticism and dystopian warnings, have been largely misconstrued and misunderstood.

Presenting evidence to support my case and referencing other thinkers on the subject, I hope to encourage Orwell-readers to approach this writer from a different perspective, and thereby to achieve a more fully-rounded understanding of the issues that troubled him.

The event will be cohosted by Caominh (Kevin) and is followed by an open forum for questions and discussion.