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When 1984 came out in 1949, the overwhelming majority of British households did not own cars. Likewise for many other western European countries. The U.S. was a

When 1984 came out in 1949, the overwhelming majority of British households did not own cars. Likewise for many other western European countries. The U.S. was and is an anomaly. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-42182497 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-42182497

kelnos 4y ago
You touch on something it's important to remember here: Orwell was an English author, not American, and lived in Europe for most of (if not all) his life. Even if the US's car ownership rates were in 1949 already what they are today (they weren't), the author's view of the world was certainly different, living in a place where car ownership was uncommon.
- HarryHirsch 4y ago
  Yes, Arthur Seaton from Saturday Night and Sunday Morning who worked at his bicycle factory in Nottingham as a machinist in the mid-1950's could afford a motorcycle "or perhaps an old car". He lived nearby with his family, in a terraced house, and would have had no need for a vehicle. Winston Smith would be in a similar social class.
- eesmith 4y ago
  He was born in British India, though his family moved to England when he was one year old, which is where he grew up. His mother grew up in Burma. In his 20s he lived and worked in Burma for 5 1/2 years as an Imperial police officer. He was fluent in Burmese. That doesn't change your conclusion, as 1920s British India wasn't a car-oriented culture either. Rather, I wish to point out that his life in Burma were a big influence on his views, in a way I think would have been harder for someone living only in England, or staying in the British ex-pat bubble as most his countrymen did.
treis 4y ago
It's been a long time since I read 1984 but I thought everyone was generally impoverished. Like not starving but no real luxuries.
- idlewords 4y ago
  Right, everything in the book is shoddy and second-rate. Access to high-quality luxuries like good tobacco and coffee is reserved for the Inner Party and is a major perk of membership.
  - wojciii 4y ago
    Which reminds me of socialism from my childhood behind the iron curtain. The dolar shops had the luxury stuff. Normal people didn't shop there. Corruption was the normal and you had to have money and a bribe to get something.
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kelnos 4y ago

You touch on something it's important to remember here: Orwell was an English author, not American, and lived in Europe for most of (if not all) his life. Even if the US's car ownership rates were in 1949 already what they are today (they weren't), the author's view of the world was certainly different, living in a place where car ownership was uncommon.

HarryHirsch 4y ago
Yes, Arthur Seaton from Saturday Night and Sunday Morning who worked at his bicycle factory in Nottingham as a machinist in the mid-1950's could afford a motorcycle "or perhaps an old car". He lived nearby with his family, in a terraced house, and would have had no need for a vehicle. Winston Smith would be in a similar social class.
eesmith 4y ago
He was born in British India, though his family moved to England when he was one year old, which is where he grew up. His mother grew up in Burma. In his 20s he lived and worked in Burma for 5 1/2 years as an Imperial police officer. He was fluent in Burmese. That doesn't change your conclusion, as 1920s British India wasn't a car-oriented culture either. Rather, I wish to point out that his life in Burma were a big influence on his views, in a way I think would have been harder for someone living only in England, or staying in the British ex-pat bubble as most his countrymen did.

treis 4y ago

It's been a long time since I read 1984 but I thought everyone was generally impoverished. Like not starving but no real luxuries.

idlewords 4y ago
Right, everything in the book is shoddy and second-rate. Access to high-quality luxuries like good tobacco and coffee is reserved for the Inner Party and is a major perk of membership.
- wojciii 4y ago
  Which reminds me of socialism from my childhood behind the iron curtain. The dolar shops had the luxury stuff. Normal people didn't shop there. Corruption was the normal and you had to have money and a bribe to get something.

deleted 4y ago

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