Selected Essays

"When I was about sixteen I suddenly discovered the joy of mere words."

Best known for his remarkable novels Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell’s essay writings throughout the 1930s and 40s are just as compelling. From "Why I Write" to "Shooting an Elephant" and "A Hanging", his observations offer contemporary readers a snapshot of Britain during some of its most turbulent decades.

This collection, ranging from Orwell’s experiences as a police officer in South-East Asia to opinion pieces on British political unrest and the horrors of war, is a selection of his most acclaimed essays, which continue to be revered today for their originality and insight.