Absolutely brilliant. I’ve been a fan of George Orwell for some years now but you managed to find a couple of stories I’ve not heard before. ‘The clock struck thirteen…… ‘ is the best opening line ever.
Read Animal Farm in grade school & 1984/Brave New World in Jr High as required reading. In high school we read Stranger In A Strange Land & Martian Chronicles (Faranheit 451 was Jr High too) I loved that class since I was already a big scifi fan. We also had to read Catcher In the Rye, Catch 22, All Quiet On the Western Front...I can't remember most of required English class reading but I definitely remember the scifi :) Looking forward to this episode.
Hello, listening to the programme in 2024. I kept listening until the end but unfortunately I did not hear any comment on Orwell's book that I found absolutely brilliant "Down and out in Paris and London" first edited in 1933. Still, the programme was quite enjoyable.
I didn't really "get" Orwell until I read "The Lion and the Unicorn" and _The Road to Wigan Pier_. I found Orwell the essayist to be far more interesting.
The seminal book when it comes to understanding Orwell's politics is "Homage to Catalonia". Orwell described himself as a Democratic Socialist and insisited on the upper case D as well as the S. He understood that Socialism inevitably involved an element of coecion - if you are going to nationalise the steel industry you have to take it from its private owners, owners of companies have to be made to pay a minimum wage for example - and that's why the state ehas to be subject to democratic accountability. In Spain he saw the evil of Stalinism and developed a life long hatred of Communism (with the capital C). He hated the world's Communist parties and all their works because of their slavish subservience to Stalin. Orwell made mistakes, is open to criticism in many areas but Christopher Hitchens' summary is about right. On the three great evils of the twentieth century - Imperialism, Fascism, Stalinism - Orwell was on the right side of the argument. Not many intellectuals in the 1930s can say the same thing!
In the West 1984 might be understood, but in China and Russia it is lived. Just now a new law has been passed in Russia. On paper it outlaws torture. In reality it legalises torture, as long as it is done by "proper authorities" for a "good cause." The latest Russian joke: - Have you heard? A monument to Orwell has been put up in Russia. - Really? Where? - Everywhere.
@@GiggleGenerator69 China and Vietnam most definitely. Middle East is a bit different because they are true believers. But if someone there is able to think critically, I don't envy them. India -- sorry, no. From my experience, Indians are quite different. More free.
@@Kurtlane Indians may be “quite free” compared to China, Russia. But India in last decade is well on it’s way to become an “authoritarian democracy”. As a citizen of the neighbouring country, I feel that everyday for both mine & India’s
@@santokun5835 , if I were to agree with you, there would be tons of Indians here, denouncing me for "disrespecting India." I have already experienced it, something I don't want to repeat. Have mercy. Let Indians figure out their own problems. I just want the war between Russia and Ukraine to end and Ukraine to gain back what Putin has stolen from it.
So the West doesn’t torture or assassinate people Or is it does okay to torture people as long as they are not Westerners As for double speak we are masters at it
The intellectual in Animal Farm is the donkey, Benjamin. He is the true intellectual, what an intellectual should really be. Very far away from what this word has come to mean now.
Absolutely brilliant. I’ve been a fan of George Orwell for some years now but you managed to find a couple of stories I’ve not heard before. ‘The clock struck thirteen…… ‘ is the best opening line ever.
Gold, a fantastic show on Orwell.
One of the best channels on TH-cam. Thanks for the uploads.
Binge listening to you guys. Great podcasts.
I am rapidly becoming addicted to the Rest is History
"Everybody gets the Orwell they deserve" .... brilliant
Read Animal Farm in grade school & 1984/Brave New World in Jr High as required reading. In high school we read Stranger In A Strange Land & Martian Chronicles (Faranheit 451 was Jr High too) I loved that class since I was already a big scifi fan. We also had to read Catcher In the Rye, Catch 22, All Quiet On the Western Front...I can't remember most of required English class reading but I definitely remember the scifi :) Looking forward to this episode.
Unbelievably awesome channel
Thank you. That was excellent. 😊
A great guest talking about a great author. I like Dominic Sandbrook too
Hello, listening to the programme in 2024. I kept listening until the end but unfortunately I did not hear any comment on Orwell's book that I found absolutely brilliant "Down and out in Paris and London" first edited in 1933. Still, the programme was quite enjoyable.
22.09 in
Good podcast
I didn't really "get" Orwell until I read "The Lion and the Unicorn" and _The Road to Wigan Pier_. I found Orwell the essayist to be far more interesting.
Read coming up for air that might be the Orwell more to ur liking
Orwell's most important ability was to face unpleasant truths and not look away or rationalize.
The seminal book when it comes to understanding Orwell's politics is "Homage to Catalonia". Orwell described himself as a Democratic Socialist and insisited on the upper case D as well as the S. He understood that Socialism inevitably involved an element of coecion - if you are going to nationalise the steel industry you have to take it from its private owners, owners of companies have to be made to pay a minimum wage for example - and that's why the state ehas to be subject to democratic accountability. In Spain he saw the evil of Stalinism and developed a life long hatred of Communism (with the capital C). He hated the world's Communist parties and all their works because of their slavish subservience to Stalin.
Orwell made mistakes, is open to criticism in many areas but Christopher Hitchens' summary is about right. On the three great evils of the twentieth century - Imperialism, Fascism, Stalinism - Orwell was on the right side of the argument. Not many intellectuals in the 1930s can say the same thing!
Christopher Hitchens would hate Stalin being a Trotskyist
To quote Orwell, "The dogs and the cats may brave the eternal abyss but only the pigs reach heaven" ;)
~ "1984, Orwell,,," ❤
Where can I buy the merch? Victory cigarettes, etc.
What is the theme music for the program?
In the West 1984 might be understood, but in China and Russia it is lived.
Just now a new law has been passed in Russia. On paper it outlaws torture. In reality it legalises torture, as long as it is done by "proper authorities" for a "good cause."
The latest Russian joke:
- Have you heard? A monument to Orwell has been put up in Russia.
- Really? Where?
- Everywhere.
India, china, Pakistan, entire middle East,
@@GiggleGenerator69 China and Vietnam most definitely.
Middle East is a bit different because they are true believers. But if someone there is able to think critically, I don't envy them.
India -- sorry, no. From my experience, Indians are quite different. More free.
@@Kurtlane Indians may be “quite free” compared to China, Russia. But India in last decade is well on it’s way to become an “authoritarian democracy”. As a citizen of the neighbouring country, I feel that everyday for both mine & India’s
@@santokun5835 , if I were to agree with you, there would be tons of Indians here, denouncing me for "disrespecting India." I have already experienced it, something I don't want to repeat.
Have mercy.
Let Indians figure out their own problems.
I just want the war between Russia and Ukraine to end and Ukraine to gain back what Putin has stolen from it.
So the West doesn’t torture or assassinate people
Or is it does okay to torture people as long as they are not Westerners
As for double speak we are masters at it
Hit The North ⬆️!
We read Animal Farm in school in Israel. I'm still traumitized from it to this day. A children's book it definitely is not
We live between 1984 and Brave New World
These families that are described as ‘having no money’ yet send their sons to prep school and Eton (albeit on scholarships) Pah!
Oh Dominic you still believe that people believe in what they write? What a blessed life you must live
The intellectual in Animal Farm is the donkey, Benjamin. He is the true intellectual, what an intellectual should really be. Very far away from what this word has come to mean now.