George Orwell: Into the Twenty-First Century

Cushman (Wellesley College), author Rodden and contributors make a point for Orwell's longevity into the 21st century in these 21 essays. They note that Orwell addresses sexual persecution, totalitarianism and alienation, tropes that certainly continue. They describe how 1984 has been given an Orwellian treatment by friend and foe alike; how Orwell's views on religion, patriotism, politics and pacifism related to his role as a public intellectual; how subjective reactions to Orwell have informed intellectual and political lives; and how Orwell's travel writing influenced perceptions of places and people long after he shuffled on. Essays include their own references, but the volume does not contain an index. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

John Rodden, is the author of George Orwell: The Politics of Literary Reputation, Scenes from an Afterlife: The Legacy of George Orwell, and co-editor, with Thomas Cushman, of George Orwell: Into the Twenty-First Century.

Thomas Cushman, Wellesley College, is the editor of The Journal of Human Rights and was the principal organizer of the George Orwell Centenary Conference at Wellesley College.