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I haven't read the novel, and yes, Theroux is generally a good writer, but I'm not really seeing the point of writing a novel about Orwell's time in Burma. It's
by jhbadger 3y ago
I haven't read the novel, and yes, Theroux is generally a good writer, but I'm not really seeing the point of writing a novel about Orwell's time in Burma. It's not like Orwell hid this part of his past -- he wrote a novel of his own (Burmese Days) influenced by his time there, and some of his more famous essays e.g. Shooting an Elephant deal with his time as a colonial police officer.
- dcist 3y agoI came here to write precisely this! You're not alone in your thoughts.
- hulitu 3y agoThe purpose of propaganda is to create an alternate truth. Orwell is a good target because of its writings.
- grugagag 3y agoPropaganda in whose favor though?
- matrix_overload 3y agoNah, the purpose of propaganda is to control which subset of infinitely complex reality will get remembered. Make enough people associate Orwell's works with the dark pages of his past, and the focus will shift from the ideas of the works to the identity of the writer. Then use it to attack those who still dare to bring up those ideas, and you have driven them off the public's attention span for good.
- confidantlake 3y agoFantastic book. Enjoyed it more than his more famous ones.