Reader Orwell Birthday 6

ORWELL BIRTHDAY TYPING ASPIDISTRA

Yesterday -- June 25th, 2014 -- was George Orwell's one hundred and eleventh -- 111th -- birthday, born as he was in 1903.

And as is the annual ritual here at ORWELL TODAY I typed a page from one of Orwell's books on Orwell's typewriter.

This year's book is KEEP THE ASPIDISTRA FLYING which is one of my two favourite Orwell books. As usual the book is almost totally autobiographical and Orwell is easily recognizable as the main character -- Gordon Comstock -- a struggling writer working in a book shop (exactly what Orwell was doing while writing ASPIDISTRA in 1934).

As usual on Orwell's birthday (this is the 6th year of the ritual) there's cake and balloons and party hats and everything is laid out in preparation for placing Orwell's typewriter on the desk.

This year when I opened the case out popped Orwell himself!

Or at least it seemed that way when I placed my little Orwell puppet amongst the hammers above the keys.

As I typed the first page of ASPIDISTRA -- with the book weighed down with Winston's glass paperweight -- old George was watching from his perch on top of the typewriter case.

When the typing was finished the page was displayed across the typewriter and Orwell was kind enough to pose in all his glory -- for his glory.

With work done it was time to blow out the candles and make a wish!

Orwell had so much fun he danced on a party hat!

The next morning (the day after the night before) Orwell posed for a group photo with all six pages of the six books typed so far.

In the last image of Orwell -- taken from high above -- he's diminishing before our very eyes -- but he's looking up and smiling -- as though it's we who are leaving, not he.

There will always be an Orwell.

~ Orwell's Aspidistra Birthday Party ~
hosted by Jackie Jura
June 25, 2014

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