Peter Hobley Davison (1926–2022)

The publication of the 20-volume Complete Works of George Orwell in 1998 offered readers a then-definitive collection of the many writings of this great author. Nearly everything he wrote was printed in its pages, with notes and explanations provided by the editor, Peter Davison, that made it an indispensable resource for fans of Orwell. Since then, however, new items has been brought to Davison’s attention, items which he is presenting in this follow-up volume.

The material is divided into show more five sections: correspondence between Orwell and Rene-Noel Raimbault (the French translator of [b:Down and Out in Paris and London|902264|Down and Out in Paris and London (The Complete Works of George Orwell, Vol. 1)|George Orwell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1179312292s/902264.jpg|2374970]), letters between Orwell’s first wife Eileen and her friend Norah Myles, new information about Orwell’s friend George Kopp, summaries of Orwell’s letters to Brenda Salkend (which are still unreleased but were utilized by Gordon Bowker in his recent biography of the author), a collection of other letters from other sources, and additional articles and supplementary material, including the notorious list of suspected Communists and fellow-travelers that Orwell prepared before his death. Notes are provided for all of these, as are corrections to errata contained in the earlier 20-volume set.

Though individually relatively insignificant, combined the new material is a treasure trove of detail about the life and personality of this fascinating author. Containing items such as the C. D. Darlington correspondence (which offers some idea as to when Orwell began work on Nineteen Eighty-Four) it is a informative guide to better understanding the man and his work, one supplemented by Davison’s editing, which continues the high standards set in the Collected Works. This is a must-have volume for owners of the earlier collection, and an interesting read for anyone interested in Orwell and his works. show less

This account of Orwell's life is chiefly concerned with what influenced Orwell, his relations with publishers and editors, and the analysis of certain key experiences. These include the deposition that during the Spanish Civil War he was guilty of espionage and high treason; his work at the BBC; his interest in pamphlet literature; and his time as a war correspondent. The work offers an assessment of his earnings from 1922 to 1945, and a look at his attitudes of class, women and religious show more belief. Special attention is paid to his essays. show less

Oddly, this book features as its first "chapter" the entire ~160 page text of S. L. Bethell's book "Shakespeare and the Popular Dramatic Tradition". This is then followed by about 100 pages on music hall, 19c popular music, etc.