Why Orwell Matters

In this widely acclaimed biographical essay, Christopher Hitchens assesses the life, the achievements, and the myth of the great political writer and participant, George Orwell. In true emulative and contrarian style, Hitchens is both admiring and aggressive, sympathetic yet critical, taking true measure of his subject as both hero and problem.

Key Themes and Insights:

• Challenging Myths: Hitchens tears down the facade of sainthood erected by the hagiographers and rebuts the critics point by point, addressing both Orwell's detractors and false claimants.
• Exploration of Perspectives: He examines Orwell's views on:
  • Fascism
  • Empire
  • Feminism
  • Englishness
  • America — a country and culture towards which Orwell exhibited much ambivalence.

Whether considering empires or dictators, race or class, nationalism or popular culture, Orwell's moral outlook remains indispensable in a world that has undergone vast changes in the fifty years since his death.

Why This Book Matters:

Combining the best of Hitchens's polemical punch and intellectual elegance in a tightly woven and subtle argument, this book addresses not only why Orwell matters today, but also how he will continue to matter in an uncertain future.

Christopher Hitchens, one of the most incisive minds of our own age, meets Orwell on the page in this provocative encounter of wit, contention, and moral truth.