Politics and the English Language
Jan 2013 · Penguin UK
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90 reviews
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About this ebook
'Politics and the English Language' is widely considered Orwell's most important essay on style. Style, for Orwell, was never simply a question of aesthetics; it was always inextricably linked to politics and to truth.'All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred and schizophrenia.When the general atmosphere is bad, language must suffer.'Language is a political issue, and slovenly use of language and cliches make it easier for those in power to deliberately use misleading language to hide unpleasant political facts. Bad English, he believed, was a vehicle for oppressive ideology, and it is no accident that 'Politics and the English Language' was written after the close of World War II.
'Politics and the English Language' is widely considered Orwell's most important essay on style. Style, for Orwell, was never simply a question of aesthetics; it was always inextricably linked to politics and to truth.'All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasio...
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90 reviews
Conrad Haupt
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November 24, 2014
George Orwell always seems to promote thought, to question a situation or context, no matter what the topic. His argument on the language "decay", in politics, is both well executed and necessary. His analysis, at times, would go places where I did not at first see. A great read for anyone who wants to delve into the inner workings of English in politics.
19 people found this review helpful
jennet wheatstone
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April 1, 2026
We’re a UK radio station that’s pretty obsessed about American country music. We love the stories, the passion, the performance and the emotion of country music. After all, it’s real musicians playing real instruments, singing
Issarin Vallibhakara
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June 7, 2020
A great analysis of the modern English language, especially the kind demanded by academic institutions. In my view, it gets to the point in explaining how language and politics has been obfuscated by, among other things, vague or misleading phrasing, leading to writings and speeches that either hide their true meaning or have no point to make. Some more history on how these changes came to be would have been appreciated.
1 person found this review helpful
About the author
Eric Arthur Blair (1903-1950), better known by his pen-name, George Orwell, was born in India, where his father worked for the Civil Service. An author and journalist, Orwell was one of the most prominent and influential figures in twentieth-century literature. His unique political allegory Animal Farm was published in 1945, and it was this novel, together with the dystopia of Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), which brought him world-wide fame. His novels and non-fiction include Burmese Days, Down and Out in Paris and London, The Road to Wigan Pier and Homage to Catalonia.
Eric Arthur Blair (1903-1950), better known by his pen-name, George Orwell, was born in India, where his father worked for the Civil Service. An author and journalist, Orwell was one of the most prominent and influential figures in twentieth-century literature. His unique political allegory Anima...
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