I have been listening to people. First of all the Pope Leo XIV an American Pope no less who has been trying to bring Trump to heel. I have noticed through the weeks that there has been an emphasis on Jesus Christ and his storytelling, turn the other cheek, overthrow the moneymakers, help others that has flowed through the eco vision of the net.
I would recommend the book Orwell's Roses by Rebecca Solnit. Rather than read his sombre books and frighten yourself enough to hide under the bed. Read this book and learn about Orwell in real life, though he was indeed a 'grumpy pants' type of person, which could easily have been down to his illness. The making of a garden was just as important to him. He made two gardens one at Wallington and the other on the Scottish island of Jura.
In the video below Rebecca Solnit and Margaret Atwood discuss the book.
One wonders how Orwell became such a well known figure when the things he wrote about were so near the knuckle, his allegorical books Nineteen Eighty four and Animal Farm have almost monopolised our thinking on authoritarianism and fascism that perhaps judgment from past thinking colours our thinking in the present day. But as Jablog's blog on the Aspidistra plant immediately reminded me the other day of his book Keep the Aspidistra Flying. Then of course another question arose in my mind, why did the Victorians so love the Aspidistra plant, was it because of our habit forming and imitating ways of each other. Perhaps because the plant was hardy enough to put up with dark smoky atmospheres and live forever!
He seems to have been a contradictory figure, difficult to pigeonhole and presenting different facets in different circumstances.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting, Thelma. I don't know enough about it all to make a comment but wanted you to know I'm here reading what you say. :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of this book but it sounds interesting. Paul Theroux also wrote a book about Orwell recently -- "Orwell in Burma," or something like that. I haven't read any Orwell in years but I remember liking both "Animal Farm" and "1984" when I was in high school.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea Rebecca Solnit is 64 years old. I thought she was younger than me. Not sure where I got that idea.