Orwell's Roses

Down and Out in Paris and London (1933)

An autobiographical account of Orwell’s experiences living as a low-wage worker in these two large urban centers, this book is a useful introduction to Orwell’s politics.

Burmese Days (1934)

This novel is based on Orwell’s experiences as a police officer for the British colonial authorities in Burma (now Myanmar). Orwell’s protagonist identifies “theft” as the main primary rationale for the British Empire.

A Clergyman’s Daughter (1935)

Orwell experimented with form in this novel, like other modernist writers of the time. He later disavowed the novel, describing it as a failed experiment.

Keep the Aspidistra Flying (1936)

In this novel about social class and money, the protagonist dismisses the luxuries of middle class life to pursue more meaningful work, only to find discomfort and anxiety.

The Road to Wigan Pier (1937)

In this book, Orwell investigates the conditions of workers in the northern, heavily-industrialized part of England. He interviews and briefly works alongside the miners, as Solnit discusses in Part 2 of Orwell’s Roses: “Going Underground.”

Homage to Catalonia (1938)

This is a nonfiction book about Orwell’s experiences in the Spanish Civil War. He claims that the Spanish people did much for him, while he did little for the war itself.

Coming Up for Air (1939)

A novel about a man nostalgic for the England of his youth, this story is both wistful and humorous, with satiric descriptions of contemporary life.

Animal Farm (1945)

A novel in the form of a fable, this is one of Orwell’s most famous works. It depicts a farm filled with anthropomorphic animals who represent the different political ideologies of Orwell’s day.

1984 (1949)

This famed dystopian novel is Orwell’s last published book. It describes Winston Smith’s work for the Ministry of Truth and his search for love and meaning in a totalitarian society. Solnit explores the book at length in Part 7, Chapter 2 of Orwell’s Roses: “‘As the Rose-Hip to the Rose.’”

George Orwell Essays. Everyman’s Library Edition. Ed. John Carey (2002)

This is a complete collection of the many essays Orwell wrote throughout his career. It includes “A Good Word for the Vicar of Bray,” the essay that sent Rebecca Solnit on her quest.