Coming Up for Air

George Orwell, born Eric Arthur Blair on June 25, 1903, was an influential British author known for his penetrating insights and powerful critiques of political systems and societal norms. Born in India and raised in England, Orwell’s first-hand experiences with policing, war, and imperial forces had an important influence on his writing career. Orwell’s most famous works are Animal Farm (1945), a biting allegory that satirizes the Russian Revolution and subsequent totalitarianism, and 1984 (1949), a dystopian novel that portrays a totalitarian society where individuality is crushed, and government surveillance reigns supreme. His pessimistic visions of the future resonate into the modern day. Orwell is credited for introducing the terms “Big Brother,” “thought police,” and “thought crime” into the English language.

Orwell's personal life was marked by a diverse range of experiences. He was born in British Colonial India, where his father’s family had long been established as priests and civil servants. Orwell was raised and educated in England, earning a scholarship to Eton but leaving without a degree. In 1922, Orwell joined the Indian Imperial Police in Burma, then a province of British India. Orwell’s time in India shaped his critical views of imperialism and bureaucracy.