It was 67 years ago that George Orwell's tuberculosis finally caught up with him. He fought against totalitarianism of both the Fascist sortand the Stalinist variety, and fought bravely both in his writings and physically in the Spanish Civil War. Terms he created (cold war, Big Brother, thought police, Room 101, memory hole, newspeak, doublethink, thoughtcrime) entered the language and are as relevant as ever today. Try out his six rules for writers: Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. Never use a long word where a short one will do. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out. Never use the passive where you can use the active. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
Strangely, I read the opening pages to "Homage to Catalonia" this morning! I was unaware of it being the anniversary of his passing.. Great man, great writer, great thinker, great socialist.
Have read quite a fair amount of Orwell, a good read is Down and out in Paris and London. It really documents the inequality of the working classes at the time, likewise Road to Wigan Pier, though this did get a slagging off from the 'pie eaters' ! My daughter lives in Barcelona, and her boyfriend is a great Orwell fan, so much so he's organised a tour of the places Orwell stayed and reported from during his time there. Very interesting and free , to us!
