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Sure, 1984 and Animal Farm were both fine critiques of Stalinism. They’re not that deep though, and it’s curious that this “socialist” “anarchist” author is lar

Sure, 1984 and Animal Farm were both fine critiques of Stalinism. They’re not that deep though, and it’s curious that this “socialist” “anarchist” author is largely revered for his critiques of communism. Again, largely because of his wife’s work at the propaganda ministry.

zabzonk 3y ago
brownell didn't work at the ministry of information, and they married very shortly before he died
- marxisttemp 3y ago
  > Sonia worked with the Information Research Department (IRD), a propaganda department of the British Foreign Office, which helped to increase the international fame of Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four. With her support, the IRD was able to translate Animal Farm into over 16 languages,[3] and for British embassies to disseminate the book in over 14 countries for propaganda purposes > Sonia is believed to be the model for Julia, the heroine of Nineteen Eighty-Four.[1][2]
vvvvvvvvvvvv 3y ago
> it’s curious that this “socialist” “anarchist” author is largely revered for his critiques of communism Stalinism is not communism though, plenty of communists still hate it to this day, if anything Orwell is known for criticism of totalitarianism, not communism.
- marxisttemp 3y ago
  But he never wrote a novel providing a depiction of the pitfalls of corporate capitalism or right-wing ideology.
  - Perceval 3y ago
    He traveled to a foreign country and joined a militia to put his life on the line fighting fascism. Does that demonstrate more or less skin in the game against fascism than Stalinism?
neilk 3y ago
I’ll give you this: I was not aware of the Brownell-CIA connection at all, so thanks for that. The common American perception of Orwell as anti-communist had something to do with that. But even if there had not been such a direct connection, that would have happened anyway. The Cold War made all political dialogue unidimensional for almost 50 years. Even today many people's minds are so shriveled they cannot encompass the thoughts of someone critical of both American capitalism and Soviet state communism - as your comments demonstrate. Any serious examination of Orwell’s writing will show he was resolutely of the left. He was a socialist intellectual who was disdainful of the cultural fringes that the movement attracted. He largely romanticized the working class as naturally virtuous and with the right instincts for solidarity. In that way, and only that way, was he similar to right-wingers who dreamed of a return to pastoral tradition.

zabzonk 3y ago

brownell didn't work at the ministry of information, and they married very shortly before he died

marxisttemp 3y ago
> Sonia worked with the Information Research Department (IRD), a propaganda department of the British Foreign Office, which helped to increase the international fame of Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four. With her support, the IRD was able to translate Animal Farm into over 16 languages,[3] and for British embassies to disseminate the book in over 14 countries for propaganda purposes > Sonia is believed to be the model for Julia, the heroine of Nineteen Eighty-Four.[1][2]

vvvvvvvvvvvv 3y ago

> it’s curious that this “socialist” “anarchist” author is largely revered for his critiques of communism Stalinism is not communism though, plenty of communists still hate it to this day, if anything Orwell is known for criticism of totalitarianism, not communism.

marxisttemp 3y ago
But he never wrote a novel providing a depiction of the pitfalls of corporate capitalism or right-wing ideology.
- Perceval 3y ago
  He traveled to a foreign country and joined a militia to put his life on the line fighting fascism. Does that demonstrate more or less skin in the game against fascism than Stalinism?

neilk 3y ago

I’ll give you this: I was not aware of the Brownell-CIA connection at all, so thanks for that. The common American perception of Orwell as anti-communist had something to do with that. But even if there had not been such a direct connection, that would have happened anyway. The Cold War made all political dialogue unidimensional for almost 50 years. Even today many people's minds are so shriveled they cannot encompass the thoughts of someone critical of both American capitalism and Soviet state communism - as your comments demonstrate. Any serious examination of Orwell’s writing will show he was resolutely of the left. He was a socialist intellectual who was disdainful of the cultural fringes that the movement attracted. He largely romanticized the working class as naturally virtuous and with the right instincts for solidarity. In that way, and only that way, was he similar to right-wingers who dreamed of a return to pastoral tradition.