Orwell's Island

(Paperback)

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Description

A revealing account of George Orwells late years, spent on the Scottish island of Jura, where he wrote Nineteen Eighty-Fourthe novel that defined the twentieth century.

Revered across the globe for his incisive vision, Orwell wrote compelling literature that denounced totalitarian regimes and exposed the insidious nature of propaganda. His works are as influential and relevant today as they were decades ago. And yet this great writer was, even so, prone to irrational prejudice himself.

Orwell spent the last years of his life on the small Hebridean island of Jura, off Scotlands West coast, where he wrote his tour de force of political fiction, Nineteen Eighty-Four. It was one of the most significant and prescient novels of the twentieth century. And here he finally confronted his own demons.

No previous biography has revealed so much about Orwells later years or his time on Jura, despite this being where he created Big Brother, Thought Police and Room 101creations still in common currency today.

Reviews

Praise for Les Wilson's previous books:

"A model publication ... Scottish history at its best, making a local episode visible in its national and international dimensions." Scotland's National Book Awards Chair of Judges, Professor Chris Whatley (WINNING BOOK)

"Rich in fascinating detail and stories." The Scotsman

"Les Wilson is a skilled writer who weaves a fast-paced, compelling tale." Scottish Field

"[Wilson's] book is overwhelmingly a delight, infused with unstinting research."The Herald

"A well-researched account of loss and tragedy."Oban Times

"Wilson is an excellent writer, creating an intriguing and compulsive narrative from remarkably thorough and wide-ranging research." Ileach (Islands)

Author Bio

A former political journalist, Les Wilson has written a novel and several history books: Islay Voices, The Drowned and the Saved: How War Came to the Hebrides (winner of a Scotland's National Book Award) and Putting the Tea in Britain: How Scots Invented our National Drink. He serves as Creative Director of Caledonia TV, directing and executive producing documentaries on Scottish history, the British monarchy (Scotland's War, The Enchanted Glass), and many programs in the Scottish Gaelic language on literature and arts.