Book Review: "Why I Write" by George Orwell

Over the years, I have read and reread quite a bit of Orwell. You can have a look at some of the writings I've done about his works below...

Hopefully you can therefore understand why I'm back on the horse with this one. Why I Write is perhaps the only one I am reading for the first time and so, it's interesting to see what it will hold. About Orwell's philosophies on writing and why he himself does it. He starts with the fact that he would write a lot early in his childhood and wanted to prove the adults around him wrong (something which he details one of the reasons for anyone writing is). He definitely shows himself as more of a man universally relatable to those of us who like to write.

Perhaps the most famous piece in this book is the lengthy (however, rather inaccurate) analysis of British culture: The Lion and the Unicorn (perhaps it just doesn't apply anymore as much?). He begins by basically stating that England is unlike anywhere else in Europe because of the large class divides, the horrific lack of social mobility and the fact that the working class have private habits and jokes like some sort of large family. There's a deep-seated respect for the rule of law and yet, a disdain for the fact that there is clearly one rule for the rich and one for the poor. Orwell's argument is that this only continues to exist because of British manners and mildness. The idea that one should never complain and just get back to work. I mean yes, this would definitely be applicable to today but the fact that in the same breath he called working class people 'xenophobic' shows that not everything he says is correct. The rich folk of England were definitely, especially in those days, far more openly racist than the working class. I think today as well, the case would still find the same results.

One thing I have to say I do agree with though is that Orwell observes that the middle and upper classes are intellectually stagnant and don't really add much in terms of value. This is where he also rebukes the left-wing intelligentsia which in his view has alienated the working class public from their works. I mean, I agree yes - but wasn't Orwell privately educated? So basically he's upset at people like himself? Am I seeing something others aren't or am I going about this wrong? You tell me. Anyways, he also states that in order to avoid any more war, Britain must transform from a capitalist into a socialist state and of course we know, that has pretty much been achieved in quite a few areas. We have nationalised education and healthcare and all the basics are covered - though we could probably still do better on the social equality front.

This man also hates the idea of the British Empire, he insults the ideals that surround it many times in the essay. He basically states that not only is it a relic of outdated capitalism, but it is also completely and utterly inefficient seeing as neither the English nor the Indians want it about. The people of the UK don't like the idea of a standing army overseas because it creates a lot of war anxiety and those people need to be taken care of daily, meaning resources are being used in incredible amounts. Atop of this, the Indians of course don't like it because they're basically being enslaved. Orwell's conclusion is that one of the things that needs to happen so that Britain can become more stable in its newfound socialism is that the British Empire needs to end. And of course, it does end. I have to agree that the British Empire was basically bad for everyone who wasn't some rich person but I think Orwell hates it more than all of us put together.

I enjoyed this book though I didn't always agree with it (he has a rant about how the English aren't artistic bar maybe Shakespeare - I have to disagree). I found it to hold some of Orwell's best examples of writing as well (since Down and Out in Paris and London). You can really see him come through the page rather than just characters. Though it is short, I very much enjoyed my reading experience.