The Lion and the Unicorn

Written between August and October 1940 and published on February 19, 1941, 'The Lion and the Unicorn' is an essay that analyzes the situation in Britain during World War II. Orwell argues that the war has exposed the inadequacies of Britain's economic and political system, and that a socialist revolution is necessary for Britain to defeat Nazi Germany.

The essay is divided into three parts: 'England Your England', 'Shopkeepers at War', and 'The English Revolution'.

It advocates for a democratic 'English Socialism' that contrasts with Soviet Communism and suggests a new form of Britishness liberated from the old ruling classes and the British Empire.