Anecdotes

Room 101 in "1984", a nightmarish room where the individual's worst fear comes true, was named after a conference room at the BBC, where Orwell had to sit through meetings he found boring.

He is buried in the graveyard of Sutton Courtenay church, near Abingdon in Oxfordshire, although he has no connection with the village. He had left instructions that he wanted to be buried in the nearest graveyard to wherever he died. However, he died in central London and none of the London churches had space for him to be buried. Fearing that his body would have to be cremated instead, his widow asked each of her friends around the country to approach their local vicar to see if their church had room. This is how he comes to be buried in Sutton Courtenay--purely by chance. His grave bears just the words, "Eric Arthur Blair / Born June 25th 1903 / Died January 21st 1950" with no mention being made of his more well-known pen-name or even the fact that he had been a famous author.

Chose the title of his magnum opus "Nineteen Eighty-Four" by inverting the last two digits of the year he completed the manuscript (1948).

Recorded propaganda broadcasts for Great Britain during World War II that were broadcast in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. In these broadcasts, which were a mixture of news, opinion and sparring against the propaganda of the pro-Japanese Indian rebel Subhas Chandra Bose, one can see the ideological underpinnings of his novels "1984" and "Animal Farm"--an aversion to tyranny, anyone's tyranny.

Orwell and his wife, Eileen, adopted a son, Richard Horatio.

As an example of his socialist views, the author spent some time living on the streets among tramps, around London and areas of Kent. Orwell gave a detailed account of his experiences in his diaries.

Died only a few months after the publication of "1984".

He provided the British government a list of people he suspected to be Communist sympathizers in the late 1940s. He singled out Charles Chaplin, actor Michael Redgrave and novelist J.B. Priestley.

Two TV series are based on his novel "1984": "Big Brother" and Room 101 (1994). Interestingly, both are humorous versions of his disturbing ideas.

Works such as "Animal Farm" and "Down and Out in Paris and London," would be rejected by some of the major book publishers.

Wrote "Animal Farm" after his experiences during the Spanish Civil War, in which he fought alongside Trotskyite troops in the Republican (Loyalist) forces. At this time (1936-39), Joseph Stalin was deep into carrying out the Great Purge in the Soviet Union, and so any followers of Trotsky were suspect. He barely escaped from Spain with his life, and ever after was a committed foe of Communism, particularly Stalinism. "Animal Farm" is a barely-disguised metaphor for Stalin's propaganda-laced Soviet Russia, as well as his later novel "1984".

Even though George Orwell worked for BBC radio, all recordings of his voice are missing from the archives. To this day, no recording of his voice is known to exist. The Corporation is notorious for the haphazard archiving policy of its early decades, both for radio and TV, and many high-profile broadcasts were wiped.

Reportedly, he was generally satisfied with his novel "1984".

Wrote 1984 on the Hebridean Isle of Jura.

Had a brief career as a teacher during the 1930s, before a bout of flu caused Orwell to abandon that vocation.

Was known to smoke rather heavily whilst working on his writing.

By the time he was working on his manuscript for the novel "1984," Orwell was gravely ill with tuberculosis.

For the last few years of his life, the writer lived in relative seclusion on an island off the coast of Scotland.

His novel "Animal Farm," was viewed as a satirical attack upon the current Soviet government.

His output as a writer, is approximately 3,000 pages of news articles as well as his novels.

Of Clan Blair.

Amongst the author's dislikes, are the following: modern furniture, the radio, central heating, big towns and noise pollution.

Worked at a bookshop in Hampstead for just over a year, from the end of 1934 until early 1936. This period served as the basis for the author's novel, "Keep the Aspidistra Flying".

Whilst involved in the Spanish civil war, Orwell was shot in the neck. He made a full recovery after many weeks in hospital.

For many years, Orwell experienced considerable insolvency. Then with the success of his book, "The Road to Wigan Pier," he was finally able to support himself and his family on his earnings as a writer.

His first wife died suddenly in hospital during the second world war, following a reaction to the general aesthetic before her surgery.

Working at a punishing rate, Orwell often churned out a story or a news article once every other day during the second world war.

Married for a second time in 1949, from his hospital bed in London.

In 1941, Orwell was employed by the BBC as a spokesman. However, he came to detest his job and resigned two years later.

Served in the British Imperial Police in Burma until 1927. Orwell's experiences would provide the inspiration for his novel, "Burmese Days".

During his time in Burma, the writer witnessed a public hanging of a man who had recently been convicted. Orwell was said to have been nauseated by the experience.

A Boarding School Survivor.

Decided to publish his work under the name George Orwell, so as to ensure his parents wouldn't discover he was a writer.

Despite being afflicted with a bad chest and coughing fits, George Orwell was known to ignore the doctor's advice. This especially applied if it meant any interference with Orwell's writing.

Had a part-time job as a bookseller, as a means of supplementing his income as a writer.

His manuscript for his "Animal Farm" novel, was amongst the wreckage after his London home was bombed in 1944. Orwell himself retrieved the manuscript.

Peter Davison the editor of 20-volume George Orwell: The Complete Works born Newcastle, 10 September 1926 and died in UK on 16 August 2022" he was married to Sheila Bethel.

As a pupil at boarding school, Orwell dreaded the rigidity of the discipline exercised by the headmaster.

During the Second World War, George Orwell was disappointed after being rejected for active service. However, he became a member of the Home Guard.

Amongst the authors whose work he enjoyed, were Charles Dickens, James Joyce, William Shakespeare, D.H. Lawrence and T.S. Eliot.

Was the subject for a 5-part BBC TV documentary, from the series Arena (1975).

With his father often absent from home due to his job, young Orwell rarely saw him until from the age of 8.

Second cousin of John Le Mesurier, his maternal grandmother being the elder sister of Le Mesurier's paternal grandfather.