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George Orwell's Diaries

Starting today, entries from George Orwell's diaries (annotated by Orwell scholar Peter Davison) will be posted online. The first entry, from August 9, 1938, is a brief description of Orwell's encounter with a snake. Future entries promise to be more enlightening:

What impression of Orwell will emerge? From his domestic diaries (which start on 9th August), it may be a largely unknown Orwell, whose great curiosity is focused on plants, animals, woodwork, and – above all – how many eggs his chickens have laid. From his political diaries (from 7th September), it may be the Orwell whose political observations and critical thinking have enthralled and inspired generations since his death in 1950. Whether writing about the Spanish Civil War or sloe gin, geraniums or Germany, Orwell’s perceptive eye and rebellion against the ‘gramophone mind’ he so despised are obvious.

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    I can't wait to read (none / 0) (#1)
    by andgarden on Sat Aug 09, 2008 at 02:09:42 PM EST
    the Spanish Civil War entries.

    Thanks for pointing this out, TChris.

    I tend to think (none / 0) (#7)
    by Salo on Sat Aug 09, 2008 at 04:52:59 PM EST
    he had to be running guns.   Although have most of the details he was involed in disclosed.

    Parent
    Very cool.... (none / 0) (#2)
    by kdog on Sat Aug 09, 2008 at 02:12:46 PM EST
    George Orwell the prophet...if he could see his England now he'd be amazed how close his dystopian vision has come to reality.

    what bull. (none / 0) (#5)
    by Salo on Sat Aug 09, 2008 at 04:48:12 PM EST
    We still forego picture IDs, sexual hypocracy and the Death Penalty.We also have an NHS.  Hope that White Rhino is good dude.

    Parent
    It's excellent... (none / 0) (#9)
    by kdog on Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 09:44:19 AM EST
    how those cameras on nearly every corner of London working out?

    Big Brother provided "free" healthcare too:)

    I exagerate of course, but England (or America)today more closely resembles Orwell's Oceania than their early 20th sentury versions...I don't think that is disputable.

    Parent

    The funniest thing (none / 0) (#3)
    by Steve M on Sat Aug 09, 2008 at 02:14:14 PM EST
    is how Left and Right manage to quote Orwell with equal facility.

    New to me: "the gramaphone (none / 0) (#4)
    by oculus on Sat Aug 09, 2008 at 02:30:54 PM EST
    mind."  Must remember.  But, who, today, knows what a gramaphone is?

    Parent
    Given that he was... (none / 0) (#6)
    by Salo on Sat Aug 09, 2008 at 04:52:05 PM EST
    ...a colonial policeman, old Etonian and MI5 spy operating under a quasi-pseudonym, the anachronistic  gramaphone reference makes perfect sense. Very few Americans would even know the first thing about the biography I just listed.

    Parent
    I just read about the pseudonym. Learn (none / 0) (#8)
    by oculus on Sat Aug 09, 2008 at 04:55:58 PM EST
    something each and every day.  Did know about India.  

    Parent