Becoming George Orwell Life and letters, legend and legacy

Now largely retired, Rodden taught at the University of Texas for two decades, and this is the eighth volume on Orwell he has written, coauthored, or edited. In this book's conclusion he positions himself as a sort of Boswell in relation to the actual biography of his frequent scholarly subject. Rodden also notes that the public figure--distinguished from the actual writer by quotation marks ("Orwell")--that emerged after Orwell's death in 1950 provided him with a far richer and longer-lasting scholarly topic, particularly given the complex and often contradictory uses to which Orwell's political writings have been put. This book will serve as a useful entry point for those unfamiliar either with Orwell's life and career or with the messy history of his posthumous reputation. Rodden not only skillfully deploys his four decades of research into Orwell's life (and vicarious afterlife) but also catalogs the dissonances between Orwell and "Orwell" in asserting that the two are almost distinct phenomena 70 years after the author's death. As he did in The Unexamined Orwell (CH, Apr'12, 49-4326) and Scenes from an Afterlife (CH, Feb'04, 41-3294), Rodden argues cogently for a nuanced and less politicized understanding of Orwell's legacy. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty; general readers. --Derek C. Maus, State University of New York at Potsdam

Rodden (Univ. of Texas; The Cambridge Companion to George Orwell) here updates George Orwell: The Politics of Literary Reputation and Scenes from an Afterlife: The Legacy of George Orwell with the intent to separate Orwell (1903-50) the writer from the posthumous literary icon. Rodden briefly introduces the author's life and works, then delves into his enduring relevance, citing the renewed interest in 1984 following the election of Donald Trump. Although Rodden is frequently repetitious, there is much to recommend here. Writing at length about Orwell's famous essay "A Hanging," he examines the unexpected embrace of Orwell by the Catholic Church; the similarities among Orwell, Albert Camus, and now-obscure French writer Jean Malaquais; the early commercial successes of Animal Farm and 1984 (crediting a 1954 BBC TV version); and reflects on his own study of "reputation history" and personal relationship to Orwell. As a self-described "recovering utopian" in tune with his subject's utopian skepticism, -Rodden's outlook on democratic socialism will resonate with our current political environment. VERDICT Anyone with an interest in Orwell will appreciate Rodden's insights and reflections. Young scholars will do well to heed his suggestion for further research on Orwell's connections to Asia.-Thomas Karel, Franklin & Marshall Coll. Lib., Lancaster, PA © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.