Shooting an Elephant and Other Essays


Book Description

"Shooting an Elephant and Other Essays" is a collection of 23 essays by George Orwell. Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950), known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English novelist, essayist, journalist and critic. His work is characterised by lucid prose, biting social criticism, opposition to totalitarianism, and outspoken support of democratic socialism. Included in this collection: - Why I Write - The Spike - A Hanging - Shooting an Elephant - Bookshop Memories - Charles Dickens - Boys' Weeklies - My Country Right or Left - Looking Back on the Spanish War - In Defence of English Cooking - Good Bad Books - The Sporting Spirit - Nonsense Poetry - The Prevention of Literature - Books v. Cigarettes - Decline of the English Murder - Some Thoughts on the Common Toad - Confessions of a Book Reviewer - Politics v. Literature: An Examination of Gulliver's Travels - How the Poor Die - Such, Such Were the Joys - Reflections on Gandhi - Politics and the English Language




Burmese Days


Book Description

Burmese Days is George Orwell's first novel, originally published in 1934. Set in British Burma during the waning days of the British empire, when Burma was ruled from Delhi as part of British India, the novel serves as a portrait of the dark side of the British Raj. At the center of the novel is John Flory, trapped within a bigger system that is undermining the better side of human nature. The novel deals with indigenous corruption and imperial bigotry in a society where natives peoples were viewed as interesting, but ultimately inferior. Includes a bibliography and brief bio of the author.







Books v. Cigarettes


Book Description

Beginning with a dilemma about whether he spends more money on reading or smoking, George Orwell’s entertaining and uncompromising essays go on to explore everything from the perils of second-hand bookshops to the dubious profession of being a critic, from freedom of the press to what patriotism really means. Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves – and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives – and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are.




George Orwell’s Elephant & Other Essays


Book Description

In his new collection of essays Subhash Jaireth traverses the globe in an exploration of the personal and collective memory held within natural and built landscapes. His roving curiosity takes us from his early life in Delhi to his years as a student in Soviet-era Moscow. We travel to Burma with George Orwell and battle windmills in Spain with Don Quixote. Jaireth walks us through the landscapes around Uluru, Canberra and Sydney with the sharp gaze of a geologist and the imagination of a poet. We follow the roots of an old banksia tree in his garden, the traces left by ancient rivers and seas, and stories passed down from time immemorial. In George Orwell’s Elephant & Other Essays, Jaireth draws his life’s emotional map right on the soil under his feet, and in the process unearths narratives, characters and places that leave us aware of the layers of memory and meaning that shimmer all around us.




Shooting an Elephant of George Orwell - Short Story Or Essay on the Essence of Colonialism?


Book Description

Seminar paper from the year 2010 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,5, University of Vechta (Institut für Geistes- und Kulturwissenschaften), language: English, abstract: This paper deals with Orwell's text 'Shooting an Elephant'. I use the term text deliberately since my topic says "George Orwell: 'Shooting an Elephant' - Short Story or Essay on the Essence of Colonialism". The question of genre has been debated for decades and there have been several quarrels about allocating it to a certain genre. Most experts, however, call the text an essay but there are also those who insist on the text belonging to the group of the short stories. In my paper I will work out features of both genres and at the end of my study I will sum up the findings and draw a conclusion. First, I will give a short definition of the terms 'Short Story' and 'Essay'. This is to show the characteristics of the two genres that I will pick up again in the course of this paper. After a brief summary I will start the analysis of the text working out topics like parallels to Orwell's life, the meaning of the elephant or the construction of the text. In the final part I will sum up my results and draw a conclusion.




Facing Unpleasant Facts


Book Description

Essays by the author of 1984 on topics from “remembrances of working in a bookshop [to] recollections of fighting in the Spanish Civil War” (Publishers Weekly). George Orwell was first and foremost an essayist, producing throughout his life an extraordinary array of short nonfiction that reflected—and illuminated—the fraught times in which he lived. “As soon as he began to write something,” comments George Packer in his foreword, “it was as natural for Orwell to propose, generalize, qualify, argue, judge—in short, to think—as it was for Yeats to versify or Dickens to invent.” Facing Unpleasant Facts charts Orwell’s development as a master of the narrative-essay form and unites such classics as “Shooting an Elephant” with lesser-known journalism and passages from his wartime diary. Whether detailing the horrors of Orwell’s boyhood in an English boarding school or bringing to life the sights, sounds, and smells of the Spanish Civil War, these essays weave together the personal and the political in an unmistakable style that is at once plainspoken and brilliantly complex. “Best known for his late-career classics Animal Farm and 1984, George Orwell—who used his given name, Eric Blair, in the earliest pieces of this collection aimed at the aficionado as well as the general reader—was above all a polemicist of the first rank. Organized chronologically, from 1931 through the late 1940s, these in-your-face writings showcase the power of this literary form.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review




Politics & The English Language, Shooting an Elephant, A Hanging


Book Description

Dive into the profound insights of George Orwell's thought-provoking essays, including "Politics & The English Language," "Shooting an Elephant," and "A Hanging." Explore the complexities of language, power, and morality through Orwell's sharp and incisive commentary. As Orwell's penetrating analysis unfolds, discover the hidden truths behind political rhetoric and the impact of language on society. His astute observations shed light on the manipulation of language for political gain and the erosion of clarity and honesty in communication. But here's the pivotal question that lingers: How does the use of language shape our understanding of reality and influence our actions? Orwell challenges readers to critically examine the language they encounter and its role in shaping perceptions and beliefs. Immerse yourself in Orwell's compelling narratives, from his personal experiences as a colonial officer in Burma to his reflections on the moral dilemmas of capital punishment. Through vivid storytelling, Orwell prompts readers to confront uncomfortable truths about power, authority, and individual conscience. Are you ready to unravel the complexities of language, power, and morality in Orwell's seminal essays? Engage with Orwell's timeless wisdom and thought-provoking insights that continue to resonate with readers around the world. His essays offer a compelling exploration of the human condition and the ethical challenges of navigating a complex and often unjust world. Don't miss the opportunity to expand your perspective and deepen your understanding of language and society. Order your copy of Orwell's essays today and embark on a journey of intellectual discovery and enlightenment. Experience the enduring relevance of Orwell's essays and gain invaluable insights into the nuances of language, power dynamics, and moral responsibility. Start your journey today and unlock the transformative power of Orwell's words.




Shooting an Elephant and other essays


Book Description

DigiCat Publishing presents to you this special edition of "Shooting an Elephant and other essays" by Eric Arthur Blair. DigiCat Publishing considers every written word to be a legacy of humankind. Every DigiCat book has been carefully reproduced for republishing in a new modern format. The books are available in print, as well as ebooks. DigiCat hopes you will treat this work with the acknowledgment and passion it deserves as a classic of world literature.