I've been reading the "Thursday Next" series by Jasper Fforde. A friend recommended the books, saying they were amusing and original, which is true, and she was surprised when I reported that I found them dark. It occurred to me around the 4th in the series that the setting is a dystopia.
Splendid piece! Struck particularly by the inspired originality of the description: ‘looking more like a monkey on a stick than you would think possible for anyone who was not doing it on purpose'.
These days, I'm struck by how much both PG Wodehouse and GO (who actually met, once) were influenced by early Dickens. It's a great line, I agree, but as someone who's read "Politics and the English Language" several times, I'm also aware that I can't picture what a "monkey on a stick" actually looks like (or, if I can, then I can't imagine how someone not balanced on a stick, could resemble a monkey in that situation)—"on a stick" only serves to say, "I am too sophisticated to say he looked like a monkey, you know." But I may be overthinking it.
A "monkey on a stick" was a popular toy in the 1910-20 time frame. My grandmother, who was born in 1908, would tell a story about her father's walking several miles to town on Christmas Eve one year to get a monkey on a stick for her little sister.
Thanks. I read D.J. Taylor's "Orwell" earlier this year and you uncovered some facts about Orwell that I do not remember reading in the book (but my memory isn't that great these days). I wonder how you would fit Arendt's "The Origins of Totalitarianism" into your 1984 narrative?
It is interesting to see women wearing the red capes of the Handmaid's.tale at political protests- I remember seeing them at pro choice rallies in the Republic of Ireland. As militaristic Protestantism was historically so popular there
Kylie Jenner caused a ruckus by wearing a sexualised version for Halloween
People want to claim and protect their dystopias - It is interesting the Soviets tried to claim 1984
I wonder if that is a hold over from the book of Revelation and even Ragnarok
If Wells' tragedy "was to live too long", Orwell's was surely to die too young. Forty-six. I realise that, having previously survived a bullet through the throat, he'd been pretty fortunate. And I admit that in wishing he'd had another 30 years in which to write, I'm being selfish. (Imagine receiving for Christmas a fat volume of essays: 'Orwell on the Sixties'.) Still, it's a shame.
I don't think so. I think it's just as well for his reputation that he died when he did. If he'd survived, his later radio and TV appearances would be notable for his way for speaking, like Malcolm Muggeridge. And he'd have been more or less forced to say what he thought "Nineteen Eighty-Four" was about, which would have destroyed the ambiguity it has, which means one can read it with an open mind.
I sometimes like to wonder what he'd have made of "Waiting for Godot" (though I'm not aware that he was at all interested in theatre: his Shakespeare knowledge seems to come entirely from reading) or "Casino Royale" (Fleming was a couple of years younger than Orwell, so would have been at Eton at much the same time) or "Lucky Jim" or "Look Back In Anger." He'd probably have called the lot humbug.
As for Wells, I read "The Sleeper Awakes" a few months ago, as it was mentioned in a James Burnham book (probably "The Managerial Revolution"—itself an influence on Orwell). I thought it was awful. Silly premise, sloppy plot, no characterisation; Wells doesn't seem to know what's going on some of the time, and he hadn't stopped to think how his future society would work, etc. If anyone thinks it's any good, I'd like to know why. And I think "The War of the Worlds," "The Time Machine," and "The Invisible Man" all of which I read as a child are brilliant.
The mention of Huxley teaching Orwell is another excuse to plug Minoo Dinshaw’s superb biography of Steven Runciman, “Outlandish Knight”, the man who pops up everywhere. Orwell’s best friend at Eton, just warming up for Cambridge in the 1930s…finally ending as Mrs Thatcher’s opera date!
"Animal Farm" portrays Lenin as Major, a noble father-figure leading the animals in revolt.
In reality, Lenin created the terror-state that Stalin used. He was Lenin's true heir (as well as his murderer).
Similarly, Trotsky (in reality a dour and dire mass-murderer) is portrayed as the cavalier Snowball. His persecution by Stalin gave him the undeserved status of a quixotic victim-figure.
Just as Hitler's annihilatory invasion of the Soviet Union gave Stalin the undeserved semblance of being humane.
Orwell wrote well, by which I mean his style of writing was well-constructed and clear. “1984” was brilliant, and was partly about British government propaganda during and after WWII. But otherwise, he was quite mixed up. A silly tale of roughing it in Paris, a description of his own military ineptitude, a spell as a colonial policeman in Burma, a trip to somewhere up north called Wigan or something…If it wasn’t for 1984, I don’t think we would know his name.
I've been reading the "Thursday Next" series by Jasper Fforde. A friend recommended the books, saying they were amusing and original, which is true, and she was surprised when I reported that I found them dark. It occurred to me around the 4th in the series that the setting is a dystopia.
Thank you. I look forward to reading that too
Splendid piece! Struck particularly by the inspired originality of the description: ‘looking more like a monkey on a stick than you would think possible for anyone who was not doing it on purpose'.
ha ha it's. great line
These days, I'm struck by how much both PG Wodehouse and GO (who actually met, once) were influenced by early Dickens. It's a great line, I agree, but as someone who's read "Politics and the English Language" several times, I'm also aware that I can't picture what a "monkey on a stick" actually looks like (or, if I can, then I can't imagine how someone not balanced on a stick, could resemble a monkey in that situation)—"on a stick" only serves to say, "I am too sophisticated to say he looked like a monkey, you know." But I may be overthinking it.
There is a bit on Dickens in the book. He was obviously a huge admirer
A "monkey on a stick" was a popular toy in the 1910-20 time frame. My grandmother, who was born in 1908, would tell a story about her father's walking several miles to town on Christmas Eve one year to get a monkey on a stick for her little sister.
Ah, thanks! It makes more sense now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDdf_gAB228
This 20-second video shows a hand-made one, but there were mass-produced versions, some with more range of motion and painted figures.
I'm not sure how the imagery works in the original context, though. Maybe you had to be there.
Nice piece Ed.
I have actually been listening to and viewing a lot of 1984 content on YouTube of late
Do you think the party actually controls all of Oceania or just Britain?
Thanks. I read D.J. Taylor's "Orwell" earlier this year and you uncovered some facts about Orwell that I do not remember reading in the book (but my memory isn't that great these days). I wonder how you would fit Arendt's "The Origins of Totalitarianism" into your 1984 narrative?
Are you the Richard North who wrote Ministry of Defeat, by any chance?
No not me I'm afraid.
I found this screenshot in Rob Henderson's Twitter account from Orwell's "The Perversion of Literature":
https://x.com/robkhenderson/status/1794081904582332891
Remarkable how some things seem to repeat themselves. This passage in the second paragraph sounds like an ex-New Atheist lamenting wokeism today!
The first actor to play Winston Smith was David Niven in a 1949 radio adaption, which is pretty amusing casting.
yes not at all appropriate casting I would have thought
Could have been Leslie Phillips :-)
It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.
Ding dong!
It explains why Julia fell for Winston
Surprised the Age Gap discourse has not come for 1984
It is interesting to see women wearing the red capes of the Handmaid's.tale at political protests- I remember seeing them at pro choice rallies in the Republic of Ireland. As militaristic Protestantism was historically so popular there
Kylie Jenner caused a ruckus by wearing a sexualised version for Halloween
People want to claim and protect their dystopias - It is interesting the Soviets tried to claim 1984
I wonder if that is a hold over from the book of Revelation and even Ragnarok
If Wells' tragedy "was to live too long", Orwell's was surely to die too young. Forty-six. I realise that, having previously survived a bullet through the throat, he'd been pretty fortunate. And I admit that in wishing he'd had another 30 years in which to write, I'm being selfish. (Imagine receiving for Christmas a fat volume of essays: 'Orwell on the Sixties'.) Still, it's a shame.
I’m in my Orwell year so I now appreciate how young he died
I'm not far behind, so I know what you mean!
I don't think so. I think it's just as well for his reputation that he died when he did. If he'd survived, his later radio and TV appearances would be notable for his way for speaking, like Malcolm Muggeridge. And he'd have been more or less forced to say what he thought "Nineteen Eighty-Four" was about, which would have destroyed the ambiguity it has, which means one can read it with an open mind.
I sometimes like to wonder what he'd have made of "Waiting for Godot" (though I'm not aware that he was at all interested in theatre: his Shakespeare knowledge seems to come entirely from reading) or "Casino Royale" (Fleming was a couple of years younger than Orwell, so would have been at Eton at much the same time) or "Lucky Jim" or "Look Back In Anger." He'd probably have called the lot humbug.
As for Wells, I read "The Sleeper Awakes" a few months ago, as it was mentioned in a James Burnham book (probably "The Managerial Revolution"—itself an influence on Orwell). I thought it was awful. Silly premise, sloppy plot, no characterisation; Wells doesn't seem to know what's going on some of the time, and he hadn't stopped to think how his future society would work, etc. If anyone thinks it's any good, I'd like to know why. And I think "The War of the Worlds," "The Time Machine," and "The Invisible Man" all of which I read as a child are brilliant.
I always thought he died of lung cancer.
Isn’t the modern regime a bit more Huxley (endless porn/weed/drugs/entertainment) than “Big Brother,” despite conservative love for Orwell?
It’s striking that Orwell and Tolkien, so different in so many ways, both hated motorcars and other aspects of modern life.
Stanley Payne on the Spanish Civil War is a must-read.
https://www.firstthings.com/author/stanley-g-payne
https://theworthyhouse.com/2019/04/16/on-francisco-franco/
Of all the reasons I hate the Left, “shamelessly lying about history” is near the top of the list.
Everyone on the Right should know about Roy Campbell, a man who saw the Spanish Republic for what it was, and was duly punished for it.
https://kirkcenter.org/essays/roy-campbell-a-poet-for-our-time/
https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2024/05/roy-campbell-convert-communists-carmelites-joseph-pearce.html
Muggeridge's essay on Orwell "A Knight of the Woeful Countenance," is (or was; I haven't checked recently) hard to find online, so some years ago I copied it to here https://www.johnderbyshire.com/Opinions/Diaries/Extras/orwell.pdf You're welcome!
Brilliant piece Ed. I had to LOL at “the only George Orwell in the telephone directory!”
Thank you! Poor man, imagine.
Excellent article.
The mention of Huxley teaching Orwell is another excuse to plug Minoo Dinshaw’s superb biography of Steven Runciman, “Outlandish Knight”, the man who pops up everywhere. Orwell’s best friend at Eton, just warming up for Cambridge in the 1930s…finally ending as Mrs Thatcher’s opera date!
"Animal Farm" portrays Lenin as Major, a noble father-figure leading the animals in revolt.
In reality, Lenin created the terror-state that Stalin used. He was Lenin's true heir (as well as his murderer).
Similarly, Trotsky (in reality a dour and dire mass-murderer) is portrayed as the cavalier Snowball. His persecution by Stalin gave him the undeserved status of a quixotic victim-figure.
Just as Hitler's annihilatory invasion of the Soviet Union gave Stalin the undeserved semblance of being humane.
Orwell wrote well, by which I mean his style of writing was well-constructed and clear. “1984” was brilliant, and was partly about British government propaganda during and after WWII. But otherwise, he was quite mixed up. A silly tale of roughing it in Paris, a description of his own military ineptitude, a spell as a colonial policeman in Burma, a trip to somewhere up north called Wigan or something…If it wasn’t for 1984, I don’t think we would know his name.