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When I was about sixteen I suddenly discovered the joy of mere words

Best known for his remarkable novels Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwells essay writings throughout the 1930s and 40s are just as compelling. From Why I Write to Shooting an Elephant and A Hanging, his observations offer contemporary readers a snapshot of Britain during some of its most turbulent decades.

This collection, ranging from Orwells experiences as a police officer in South-East Asia to opinion pieces on British political unrest and the horrors of war, is a selection of his most acclaimed essays, which continue to be revered today for their originality and insight.