John Rodden is Adjunct Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Texas at Austin.

'This is a genuine companion. The essays are sharp and to the point; never outstay their welcome; and, unlike so much academic writing which seems to be more concerned to address a narrow field of fellow academics, is completely free of jargon. Orwell would have been delighted.' Peter Davison, The Orwell Forum

• Preface; Notes on contributors; An Orwell calendar John Rodden; 1. A political writer John Rossi and John Rodden; 2. Orwell and the biographers Gordon Bowker; 3. Englands his Englands: Orwell's Britain between the wars Jonathan Rose; 4. The truths of experience: Orwell's nonfiction of the 1930s Margery Sabin; 5. The fictional realist: novels of the 1930s Michael Levenson; 6. Orwell's essays as a literary experience William Cain; 7. 'My Country, Right or Left': Orwell's patriotism John Rossi; 8. Orwell and the British left Ian Williams; 9. Orwell, anti-semitism, and the Holocaust John Newsinger; 10. Orwell and the Cold War Robert Conquest; 11. Animal Farm: history as fable M. Dickstein; 12. Nineteen Eighty-Four: context and controversy B. Crick; 13. Orwell, the academy, and the intellectuals Neil McLaughlin; 14. Orwell for today's reader: an open letter John Rodden; 15. George Orwell: a bibliographic essay Erika Gottlieb; 16. Why Orwell still matters Christopher Hitchens; Further reading.

John Rodden is Adjunct Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Texas at Austin.

'This is a genuine companion. The essays are sharp and to the point; never outstay their welcome; and, unlike so much academic writing which seems to be more concerned to address a narrow field of fellow academics, is completely free of jargon. Orwell would have been delighted.' Peter Davison, The Orwell Forum

• Preface; Notes on contributors; An Orwell calendar John Rodden; 1. A political writer John Rossi and John Rodden; 2. Orwell and the biographers Gordon Bowker; 3. Englands his Englands: Orwell's Britain between the wars Jonathan Rose; 4. The truths of experience: Orwell's nonfiction of the 1930s Margery Sabin; 5. The fictional realist: novels of the 1930s Michael Levenson; 6. Orwell's essays as a literary experience William Cain; 7. 'My Country, Right or Left': Orwell's patriotism John Rossi; 8. Orwell and the British left Ian Williams; 9. Orwell, anti-semitism, and the Holocaust John Newsinger; 10. Orwell and the Cold War Robert Conquest; 11. Animal Farm: history as fable M. Dickstein; 12. Nineteen Eighty-Four: context and controversy B. Crick; 13. Orwell, the academy, and the intellectuals Neil McLaughlin; 14. Orwell for today's reader: an open letter John Rodden; 15. George Orwell: a bibliographic essay Erika Gottlieb; 16. Why Orwell still matters Christopher Hitchens; Further reading.

John Rodden is Adjunct Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Texas at Austin.

'This is a genuine companion. The essays are sharp and to the point; never outstay their welcome; and, unlike so much academic writing which seems to be more concerned to address a narrow field of fellow academics, is completely free of jargon. Orwell would have been delighted.' Peter Davison, The Orwell Forum

• Preface; Notes on contributors; An Orwell calendar John Rodden; 1. A political writer John Rossi and John Rodden; 2. Orwell and the biographers Gordon Bowker; 3. Englands his Englands: Orwell's Britain between the wars Jonathan Rose; 4. The truths of experience: Orwell's nonfiction of the 1930s Margery Sabin; 5. The fictional realist: novels of the 1930s Michael Levenson; 6. Orwell's essays as a literary experience William Cain; 7. 'My Country, Right or Left': Orwell's patriotism John Rossi; 8. Orwell and the British left Ian Williams; 9. Orwell, anti-semitism, and the Holocaust John Newsinger; 10. Orwell and the Cold War Robert Conquest; 11. Animal Farm: history as fable M. Dickstein; 12. Nineteen Eighty-Four: context and controversy B. Crick; 13. Orwell, the academy, and the intellectuals Neil McLaughlin; 14. Orwell for today's reader: an open letter John Rodden; 15. George Orwell: a bibliographic essay Erika Gottlieb; 16. Why Orwell still matters Christopher Hitchens; Further reading.