Essays

The articles collected in George Orwell's Essays illuminate the life and work of one of the most individual writers of this century--a man who elevated political writing to an art. This outstanding collection brings together Orwell's longer, major essays and a fine selection of shorter pieces that includes ""My Country Right or Left,"" ""Decline of the English Murder,"" ""Shooting an Elephant,"" and ""A Hanging.""<br/>With great originality and wit, Orwell unfolds his views on subjects ranging from a revaluation of Charles Dickens to the nature of Socialism, from a comic yet profound discussion of naughty seaside postcards to a spirited defense of English cooking. Displaying an almost unrivalled mastery of English plain prose, Orwell's essays created a unique literary manner from the process of thinking aloud and continue to challenge, move, and entertain.