Seeing Things as They Are

This selection of Orwell’s journalism is a ceaseless delight… There is a treat on almost every page – Alex Massie, 5 stars * Daily Telegraph *
Orwell’s luminous gift was for seeing things, for noticing what others missed, took for granted or simply found uninteresting, for discovering meaning and wonder in the familiarity of the everyday… Nothing escaped or seemed beneath his notice, which was what made him such a good reporter… [Seeing Things As They Are] is intended to be a collection first and foremost of his journalism, with preference given to lesser-known pieces and reviews as well as some of the poems he wrote. It is full of interest and curiosities – Jason Cowley * Financial Times *
Peter Davison gives us a feast of [Orwell’s] shorter writings, showing how from such hesitant beginnings he evolved into the writer of enduring importance we know, committed to decency, equality and political honesty, who could nevertheless wax lyrical over the first signs of spring or an imaginary English pub – Gordon Bowker * Independent *
Davison, now in his late 80s, has grown grey in the service of Orwell Studies, but Seeing Things As They Are is one of his best efforts yet – possibly the best of all, for it succeeds in demonstrating quite how important hackwork was to Orwell’s sense of his professional identity… At the same time, Seeing Things As They Are is full of dry runs, and the first stirrings of ideas that would be treated at greater length elsewhere – DJ Taylor * The National *
Seeing Things is packed with delights * Camden Review *
This collection… comes from one who sets the standards by which all journalists should judge themselves and find room for improvement – Stephen Halliday * Times Higher Education *

George Orwell (1903-1950) is one of England’s most famous writers and social commentators. He is the author of the classic political satire Animal Farm and the dystopian masterpiece Nineteen Eighty-Four. He is also well known for his essays and journalism, particularly his works covering his travels and his time fighting in the Spanish Civil War. His writing is celebrated for its piercing clarity, purpose and wit and his books continue to be bestsellers all over the world.

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