Orwell was born 109 years ago on June 25th, 1903.
Three years ago, in response to a reader's question asking how ORWELL TODAY celebrated Orwell's birthday every year, I came upon the idea of performing an annual ritual wherein I'd type -- on Orwell's typewriter -- the first page of one of Orwell's books -- in descending order from when he wrote them.
On June 25th in 2009 I typed from 1984; in 2010 from ANIMAL FARM; in 2011 from COMING UP FOR AIR and this year -- 2012 -- from HOMAGE TO CATALONIA.
Below are photos of yesterday's birthday party ritual:
I wear my ORWELL TODAY t-shirt and, of course, there has to be a cake and candles (which I blow out for George while making a wish) and party hats and "a nice cup of tea". I always use the Shakespeare mug I got in Stratford-Upon-Avon many years ago because Orwell loved Shakespeare.
I use my Orwellian glass paperweight to hold down the page for typing and surround myself with finished pages from previous years.
Here's the link to this year's book HOMAGE TO CATALONIA which was published in 1938.
And here's how the home page of ORWELL TODAY looks today:
HAPPY 109th BIRTHDAY GEORGE ORWELL
ORWELL BIRTHDAY TYPING CATALONIA
June 25, 1903 - 2012
SHRINE TO ORWELL
listen JACKIE JURA INTERVIEW ABOUT ORWELL
I think the world is feeling Orwell's presence even more than ever this year and thanking him for caring so much about us -- "the future" -- that he dedicated his life to writing books AGAINST totalitarianism and FOR democratic socialism. Long live George Orwell. ~ Jackie Jura
Reader Lorraine says her typing is faster and more accurate on electronic typewriters than on computer keyboards
ORWELL BIRTHDAY TYPING 1984 & ORWELL BIRTHDAY TYPING ANIMAL FARM & ORWELL BIRTHDAY TYPING COMING UP
ORWELL'S TYPEWRITER MY GRANDFATHER'S & ORWELL'S TYPEWRITER A REMINGTON
Jackie Jura
~ an independent researcher monitoring local, national and international events ~
email: orwelltoday@gmail.com
HOME PAGE
website: www.orwelltoday.com