George Orwell: Battling Big Brother (Oxford Portraits)
Gr. 8-12. This entry in the Oxford Portraits series offers a well-written, concise biography of Orwell's contradictory, fascinating life. Beginning with Orwell's young years as Eric Arthur Blair, the book traces his elite education, his first journalistic endeavors, his experiences in the Spanish Civil War and as a civil servant in Asia, work for the BBC, and, of course, his body of literature. Throughout, the author chronicles Orwell's passionate concern with social injustice, leading up to the novels that made him famous, and includes plenty of details about Orwell's family life that will interest readers. The engaging text is enhanced with excerpts from Orwell's works, as well as good-quality photos, and other visuals, such as a reproduction of a manuscript page from 1984. A brief conclusion notes evidence of Orwell's continuing influence in our language and media. An absorbing biography for report writing or personal interest.Gillian EngbergCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved