To Orwell Today,

Jackie,
re: RECOMMENDED READING ON ORWELL

You have read so many Orwell bios. Wow!

I have read only two, but I have skimmed the index of 3 or 4 others. And so here's my question:

What do you know about the rumours floating around the Internet that Orwell had some kind of covert involvement with either British Intelligence, and that was in some way how he garnered some of his incredible prescience in "1984"?

I can't find this info anywhere (as one would expect, even if it were true!).

Do you know of any biographies or other reliable sources that discuss his involvement in MI5, or MI6, or other? How about any source that discusses his involvement (if any) with the Fabian Society?

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
David

Greetings David,

An email exchange with a previous reader entitled ORWELL FOR NONE AND ALL will hopefully answer your questions for you.

Also, if you read WHY I WRITE it explains how Orwell acquired the knowledge and motivation to write "1984".

All the best,
Jackie Jura

PS - Orwell wasn't an "insider" of any organization. He was an outsider who knocked the establishment as much as he knocked the anti-establishment.