Overview

Seventy-five years after 1984first published, George Orwell is back. Progressives denounce 'Orwellian' untruths by Trump, Johnson, Putin et al, while conservatives accuse governments and mainstream media of 'Orwellian' censorship. But what does 'Orwellian' really mean? What would the man himself say about these crises, and what can we learn from his ideas? Orwell's Ghostsreveals Orwell in all his complexity, exploring his commitment to political liberty and economic justice alongside his undeniable chauvinism. This sharp free thinker's commentaries remain invaluable, whether on political truth, disinformation, class, race and empire, or highlighting the promise of socialism and the dangerous appeal of authoritarianism. Even Orwell's misogyny offers troubling lessons about gender politics on the left. All of his books show remarkable resonance between the first half of the twentieth century and today's world. Revisiting Orwell's own age of rapid change and urgent crossroads, this book sheds unique light on both our recent past and our current upheavals.

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9781911723028

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Reviews

"'Essential reading for anyone who wants to know why Orwell is the ideal guide to our own age of upheaval.' -- Jason Cowley, Editor-in-Chief, The New Statesman 'Rescues Orwell from ""two-dimensional caricature"" to present one of our greatest novelists and essayists, warts and all. Beers reveals how Orwell's politics, shaped by the tragedies of the first half of the twentieth century, can help to understand our own age of insecurity. An essential read.' -- Rachel Reeves MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer 'With all and sundry taking Orwell's name in vain these days, it is timely to have a reminder of who he was and what he believed in, and also how his body of work can help us understand the world we live in now. Just the insight into his writings, beyond the obvious and best-known titles, makes ""Orwell's Ghosts"" well worth reading.' -- Nicola Sturgeon, former First Minister of Scotland 'Beyond Orwell's relevance to our terrifying present of post-truth politics and the shadow of tyranny, Beers shows how his often-forgotten socialist politics ought to matter to his legacy---and how the antiracism and feminism of our present demonstrate Orwell's limitations. Her wonderful book suggests that the relation between past and present is anything but simple.' -- Samuel Moyn, Yale University"

"'Full of fascinating historical detail and keen insights into contemporary politics, this is a gripping, insightful guide to Orwell's significance in the twenty-first century.' -- Sandra Newman, author of 'Julia' 'Essential reading for anyone who wants to know why Orwell is the ideal guide to our own age of upheaval.' -- Jason Cowley, Editor-in-Chief, The New Statesman 'Rescues Orwell from ""two-dimensional caricature"" to present one of our greatest novelists and essayists, warts and all. Beers reveals how Orwell's politics, shaped by the tragedies of the first half of the twentieth century, can help to understand our own age of insecurity. An essential read.' -- Rachel Reeves MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer 'With all and sundry taking Orwell's name in vain these days, it is timely to have a reminder of who he was and what he believed in, and also how his body of work can help us understand the world we live in now. Just the insight into his writings, beyond the obvious and best-known titles, makes ""Orwell's Ghosts"" well worth reading.' -- Nicola Sturgeon, former First Minister of Scotland 'A refreshing challenge to half-remembered, lazy assumptions about Orwell's ideas, pinpointing what he actually meant and why it matters. Rooted in the history essential for truly understanding Orwell, this book helps us think again about why we should read him today.' -- Charlotte Lydia Riley, author of 'Imperial Island: A History of Empire in Modern Britain' 'Beyond Orwell's relevance to our terrifying present of post-truth politics and the shadow of tyranny, Beers shows how his often-forgotten socialist politics ought to matter to his legacy---and how the antiracism and feminism of our present demonstrate Orwell's limitations. Her wonderful book suggests that the relation between past and present is anything but simple.' -- Samuel Moyn, Yale University"

'Essential reading for anyone who wants to know why Orwell is the ideal guide to our own age of upheaval.' -- Jason Cowley, Editor-in-Chief, The New Statesman

Author Information

Laura Beers is a historian of modern Britain, and author of the award-winningRed Ellen: The Life of Ellen Wilkinson, Socialist, Feminist, Internationalist;andYour Britain: Media and the Making of the Labour Party. A professor at American University, she comments frequently on British politics for CNN and the BBC.

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