New Books in Intellectual History D. J. Taylor, "Orwell: The New Life" (Pegasus Books, 2023)
Jan 9, 2026
In this engaging discussion, D. J. Taylor, an award-winning biographer known for his insightful explorations of literary figures, reexamines George Orwell's life and works. He draws on new sources and the perspectives of Orwell's last contemporaries. Taylor delves into Orwell's family origins, his transformative experiences in Burma, and the profound impact of his wartime writings. The conversation also highlights Orwell's evolving political views, the controversies surrounding his works, and the enduring relevance of 1984 in today's world.
46:29
Why A New Orwell Biography Matters
- New archival letters and fading contemporaries justify a fresh Orwell biography now.
- D. J. Taylor used new caches and changing perspectives to reexamine Orwell's life.
Orwell's Multinational Roots
- Orwell presented as quintessentially English despite mixed Scottish and French-Burmese ancestry.
- His background complicated the English persona in his writing, says D. J. Taylor.
The Silent Family Influence
- Orwell grew up in a reserved family where affection was implied rather than spoken.
- That stifled emotional expression shaped his relationships and later writings, according to D. J. Taylor.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Why revisit Orwell now
02:07 • 2min
Orwell's family origins and identity
03:52 • 57sec
Family relationships and upbringing
04:49 • 2min
Impact of India and Burma on Orwell
07:01 • 2min
Education: St Cyprian's and Eton
08:44 • 4min
Joining the Indian Imperial Police
12:50 • 1min
Burma's lasting influence on his writing
14:20 • 2min
Becoming a writer and early works
16:03 • 2min
1930s novels and self-critique
18:30 • 2min
Ad break
20:46 • 29sec
The Road to Wigan Pier and political awakening
21:15 • 1min
Marriage to Eileen and her influence
22:40 • 2min
Spain: from reporter to combatant
24:33 • 3min
Homage to Catalonia's controversy
27:30 • 44sec
Shift to supporting Britain in WWII
28:14 • 2min
BBC work and inspirations for 1984
30:35 • 2min
Origins and publication of Animal Farm
32:06 • 2min
Reaction to Eileen's death
34:13 • 3min
Retreat to Jura and final years
36:50 • 1min
The 1949 Foreign Office list explained
37:56 • 2min
Genesis and relevance of 1984
39:50 • 2min
Orwell's views on religion and Catholicism
42:18 • 2min
Marrying Sonia while ill and legacy
44:00 • 1min
Outro
45:19 • 1min
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Orwell, A Life
D. J. Taylor
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Orwell, The New Life
D. J. Taylor
#2568
• Mentioned in 16 episodes
Down and Out in Paris and London
George Orwell
Published in 1933, 'Down and Out in Paris and London' is George Orwell's first full-length book, a semi-autobiographical account of his time living in poverty.
The book is divided into two parts: the first describes his life in near-destitution in Paris, including his work as a dishwasher in a hotel and his struggles with hunger and homelessness.
The second part recounts his experiences in London, where he lived as a tramp and explored the harsh realities of poverty and the conditions in workhouses and lodging houses.
Orwell's narrative sheds light on societal inequalities and the struggles of those on the fringes of society, challenging the romantic notions of poverty and highlighting the structural issues that lead to homelessness.
#1193
• Mentioned in 29 episodes
The Road to Wigan Pier
George Orwell
The book is divided into two parts.
The first part is a detailed and evocative account of the poverty and living conditions of the working class in northern England, particularly in mining towns like Wigan.
Orwell describes the harsh realities of miners' lives, the poor housing conditions, and the economic struggles faced by these communities.
The second part of the book is a more political treatise where Orwell discusses the failures of socialism and his own socialist solutions to the problems he observed.
He critiques the middle class and the intellectual left, while advocating for a more practical and compassionate form of socialism.
#12633
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Keep the Aspidistra Flying
George Orwell
#4594
• Mentioned in 9 episodes
Burmese Days
George Orwell
#9743
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
Clergyman's Daughter
George Orwell
#4910
• Mentioned in 9 episodes
The Lion and the Unicorn
Socialism and the English Genius
George Orwell
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.
#87
• Mentioned in 168 episodes
Animal Farm
George Orwell
Published in 1945, 'Animal Farm' is a novella that allegorically represents the Russian Revolution and the subsequent rise of Stalinism.
The story begins with Old Major, a boar, inspiring the animals of Manor Farm to rebel against their human oppressor, Mr. Jones.
After the rebellion, the animals rename the farm 'Animal Farm' and establish a utopian society based on the principles of equality and solidarity, known as Animalism.
However, as time passes, the pigs, led by Napoleon and Snowball, consolidate power and gradually corrupt the original ideals, leading to a dystopian regime that mirrors the oppressive human rule they initially rebelled against.
The novel critiques totalitarianism and the corrupting nature of power, reflecting Orwell's experiences and views on the Soviet Union under Stalin's rule.
#1052
• Mentioned in 31 episodes
Homage to Catalonia
George Orwell
In 'Homage to Catalonia', George Orwell provides a firsthand and candid account of his experiences during the Spanish Civil War. The book details his decision to enlist in the worker's militia of the POUM (Partido Obrero de Unificación Marxista), his training in Barcelona, and his time on the front lines in Aragón.
Orwell vividly describes the camaraderie, hardships, and political complexities of the war, including the betrayal of the anarchist and socialist factions by the Communist Party.
The book also includes his personal account of being wounded and his subsequent hospitalization, as well as his observations on the political deceit and media manipulation that characterized the conflict.
Orwell's narrative is marked by his commitment to honesty, his critique of political factions, and his admiration for the resilience and courage of the Spanish people.
#1
• Mentioned in 1,547 episodes
1984
George Orwell
Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism.
The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother.
Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative.
He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination.
The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.
A fascinating exploration of George Orwell--and his body of work--by an award-winning Orwellian biographer and scholar, presenting the author anew to twenty-first-century readers.
We find ourselves in an era when the moment is ripe for a reevaluation of the life and the works of one of the twentieth century's greatest authors. This is the first twenty-first-century biography on George Orwell, with special recognition to D. J. Taylor's stature as an award-winning biographer and Orwellian.
Using new sources that are now available for the first time, we are tantalizingly at the end of the lifespan of Orwell's last few contemporaries, whose final reflections are caught in this book. The way we look at a writer and his canon has changed even over the course of the last two decades; there is a post-millennial prism through which we must now look for such a biography to be fresh and relevant. This is what Orwell: The New Life (Pegasus Books, 2023) achieves.
Charles Coutinho, PH. D., Associate Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, received his doctorate from New York University. His area of specialization is 19th and 20th-century European, American diplomatic and political history. He has written for Chatham House’s International Affairs, the Institute of Historical Research's Reviews in History and the University of Rouen's online periodical Cercles.
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