I finally got round to reading.......1984

[bogeyman]

Where can the Horizon lie
When a nation hides its organic growth
In a cellar dark and grim

They must be very dim.

[Joe Black]

And here I was thinking that Blairs style of politics was all down to the fact he trained as a lawyer.

[AlfredJPruffock]

Brilliant. I've read it too. It's hilarious the way he pulls apart convoluted writing styles that ramble on but say nothing in particular or just confuse the reader.

I believe with total commitment that this book may be, or on the other hand, perhaps not be , the Literary cornerstone of Mr Blairs political education, notwithstanding other possible facts which maybe , known or as yet unknown by the aforementioned.

I think Im correct in saying this, this is to say,let me make it perfectly clear, to the best of my knowledge at this moment in time, taking into account the previous remarks on this topic.


Where can the Horizon lie
When a nation hides its organic growth
In a cellar dark and grim

[bogeyman]

Brilliant. I've read it too. It's hilarious the way he pulls apart convoluted writing styles that ramble on but say nothing in particular or just confuse the reader.

I particularly like his treatment of the 'not un-' construct. e.g. "it is not unknown".

However, enjoyable though the essay is, he does verge on suggesting that any subtly and shades of meaning should be removed (is "not unknown" really the same as "known"? - I don't think so. There is a subtle extra meaning in the former).

If you eradicted every one of his pet annoyances from the English language then you'd end up with something resembling Newspeak.

Personally, I just think he was just trying to be provocative and entertaining.

[Denny]

The other bit of eerily prescient Orwell that often gets trotted out is his essay on "Politics and the English Language". Just in case you haven't come across it.
tl

Brilliant. I've read it too. It's hilarious the way he pulls apart convoluted writing styles that ramble on but say nothing in particular or just confuse the reader.

[Denny]

Rarely have I ever found a book so compelling, so insightful, so frightening and so damn close to modern day politics than this. The fact that it was written over 50 years ago is a testament to Orwell's deep understanding of the working of politics and how it would evolve in the UK, and beyond.

I'm still reeling.

If you haven't read it, or seen the film, I honestly beseech you to get the book. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Unless you are hoping for some hot snail-on-snail action. As it doesn't have any.

The book explains so much about the machinery of power and control, and its use and abuse by the State to achieve the State's objectives. It also explains quite convincingly how the people let this happen and do not offer resistance.

Off to read Animal Farm next.....(the book not the, ahem, "movie")

Much as I love 1984 and AF, his best works are undoubtedly his inter-war essays. Notes on Nationalism, Lion and the Unicorn particularly stand out for me. However, there are loads to get your teeth into.

Do read them.

[OrangeHopper]

I enjoyed the shortened version with the young women running up the cinema aisle throwing a large hammer at the screen.

[TheMonkey]

Animal Farm describes Labour rule perfectly.

[thunderlizard]

The other bit of eerily prescient Orwell that often gets trotted out is his essay on "Politics and the English Language". Just in case you haven't come across it.
tl

[threaded]

After those may I suggest: Plato, Last Days of Socrates, and Herodotus, Histories. Then you'll see that none of this is new, and Xoggoth is correct, the only way to clean up such a mess is for good people to get violent.

[xoggoth]

Yes, we let it happen because we have forgotten how to be violent. "Violence never solves anything" Stupidest saying ever. Nothing was ever gained without either the reality or the threat of it.

[cojak]

If you're into doom and gloom, try Brave New World. I read that and 1984 back-to-back many years ago and was depressed for weeks...

[Board Game Geek]

Rarely have I ever found a book so compelling, so insightful, so frightening and so damn close to modern day politics than this. The fact that it was written over 50 years ago is a testament to Orwell's deep understanding of the working of politics and how it would evolve in the UK, and beyond.

I'm still reeling.

If you haven't read it, or seen the film, I honestly beseech you to get the book. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Unless you are hoping for some hot snail-on-snail action. As it doesn't have any.

The book explains so much about the machinery of power and control, and its use and abuse by the State to achieve the State's objectives. It also explains quite convincingly how the people let this happen and do not offer resistance.

Off to read Animal Farm next.....(the book not the, ahem, "movie")