A life in letters

Resource Information

The work A life in letters represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in University of Missouri Libraries. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Books.

Label

A life in letters

Statement of responsibility

George Orwell : selected and annotated by Peter Davison

Title variation

George Orwell

Title variation remainder

a life in letters

Creator

• Orwell, George, 1903-1950

Contributor

• Davison, Peter, 1926-

Editor

• Davison, Peter, 1926-

Subject

• Herinneringen (vorm)
• Orwell, George, 1903-1950 -- Correspondence
• Records and correspondence

Genre

• Records and correspondence
• Herinneringen (vorm)
• Correspondence

Language

eng

Summary

• "Appearing for the first time in one volume, these trenchant letters tell the eloquent narrative of Orwell's life in his own words. From his school days to his tragic early death, George Orwell, who never wrote an autobiography, chronicled the dramatic events of his turbulent life in a profusion of powerful letters. Indeed, one of the twentieth century's most revered icons was a lively, prolific correspondent who developed in rich, nuanced dispatches the ideas that would influence generations of writers and intellectuals. This historic work--never before published in America and featuring many previously unseen letters--presents an account of Orwell's interior life as personal and absorbing as readers may ever see. Over the course of a lifetime, Orwell corresponded with hundreds of people, including many distinguished political and artistic figures. Witty, personal, and profound, the letters tell the story of Orwell's passionate first love that ended in devastation and explains how young Eric Arthur Blair chose the pseudonym "George Orwell." In missives to luminaries such as T. S. Eliot, Stephen Spender, Arthur Koestler, Cyril Connolly, and Henry Miller, he spells out his literary and philosophical beliefs. Readers will encounter Orwell's thoughts on matters both quotidian (poltergeists and the art of playing croquet) and historical--including his illuminating descriptions of war-shattered Barcelona and pronouncements on bayonets and the immanent cruelty of chaining German prisoners...Meticulously edited and fully annotated by Peter Davison, the world's preeminent Orwell scholar, the volume presents Orwell "in all his varieties" and his relationships with those most close to him, especially his first wife, Eileen. Combined with rare photographs and hand-drawn illustrations, George Orwell: A Life in Letters offers "everything a reader new to Orwell needs to know...and a great deal that diehard fans will be enchanted to have" (New Statesmen)." -- Publisher's description
• A compilation of personal letters creates an autobiography of the author of "Nineteen Eighty-Four" through his correspondence with other literary luminaries, including T.S. Eliot and Henry Miller, as well as letters to complete strangers

Member of

• Correspondence., Selections

Biography type

autobiography

Cataloging source

DLC

Dewey number

828/.91209

Illustrations

illustrations

Index

index present

LC call number

PR6029.R8

LC item number

Z48 2013

Literary form

non fiction

Nature of contents

bibliography