More than Animal Farm – ‘George Orwell: Life and Legacy’ by Robert Colls
Arthur got the chance to see Robert Colls speak about his new book ‘George Orwell: Life and Legacy’. See what he thought about his untellable anecdotes and Jean-Paul Sartre.
‘George Orwell: Life and Legacy’ is an account of George Orwell’s life from his birth in British India in 1903 to his death in early 1950 on the eve of the Cold War. In this book, Robert Colls explores many aspects of his life including his wives, his involvement in the wars, and of course his well-known books.
In this event, Anna-Jane Carling interviewed Colls about the events in the great author’s life, legacy and influences. Author of modern classics 1984 and Animal Farm, George Orwell, also known as Eric Arthur Blair, had much more to his life than just books. In fact, Colls believes him to be a better essayist than novelist.
Orwell led a fascinating life, living in Paris before fighting in the Spanish Civil War. In Spain he received a bullet wound which affected his involvement in World War Two. Instead of joining the army, he joined the Home Guard and later the BBC.
Colls talks about when he picked up his first George Orwell book, The Road to Wigan Pier, at the University of Sussex and why he found his works so interesting, instantly recognising the work of a literary master.
The event was well-organised and well-attended. The venue was in an old church, which I think really fitted the atmosphere of the event. The organisers were helpful and made sure you felt comfortable.
Carling asked insightful questions with relevant follow-ups. Colls littered insightful and surprising points with anecdotes, such as Orwell calling Jean-Paul Sartre a windbag. There was also a good anecdote referencing HG Wells that should not be detailed here.
The evening ended with a Q&A where Robert Colls gave some very detailed answers. We could have done with an extra hour to explore these points and views. I’m sure the audience would have liked to have stayed for longer, but unfortunately time flew by.
Personally, I think the event was fascinating and would recommend it to fans of George Orwell and his works.
By Arthur B
Arthur is in Year 7 at school. He loves playing guitar and trumpet. He is other hobbies include reading and scouts. His favourite subject at school is music. Terry Pratchett is his favourite author as he likes to read fantasy and science fiction. He loves going to see live events, especially music and plays.
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