Hi Melissa, apologies I've not had much contact recently but family bereavement and other issues prevented discourse. Great piece and you might be interested that I have a facsimile copy of the Typescript/Manuscript of Nineteen Eighty-Four. The original conception of the book probably goes back to at least 1943 and perhaps even to the early part of the Second World War. A 1944 notebook in the Orwell Archive has an outline for 'The Last Man in Europe' (references to that phrase crop up twice in the published novel after Winston's torture). Despite how we value the book today, Orwell offered before the book was published...
"I am not pleased with the book but I am not absolutely dissatisfied. I first thought of it in 1943. I think it is a good idea but the execution could have been better if I had not written it under the influence of T.B. I haven't definitely fixed on the title but I am hesitating between 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' and 'The Last Man in Europe'."
Thanks for the condolences Melissa and yes, that's the one - bought 40 years ago and cost me £25 (probably $40 at the time). It's an interesting browse showing how Orwell developed the book.
Sylvia Topp's book his wife, Eileen – The Making of George Orwell while long is enjoyable and interesting.
The fact that Sylvia was married (-or partnered, I don't remember which.) to a beatnik poet living on the lower east side (Back when I was a card carrying latter day beatnik living there, as well as long before my arrival. grin) probably gave her much insight regarding life with a writer.
The book Eileen actually inspired a lot of this (I think you recommended it to me a while ago, and I got around to reading it recently). Eileen was an amazing woman, and the book puts a lot in perspective (although I never looked up Sylvia—thanks for the background).
Your beatnik days must have been something. Thanks for reading, Jim!
Very interesting Melissa! I learned a few new points. In some Consciousness still survives.
Unfortunately it seems to me The Biden Disaster and Trump/Musk "fixing" things will bring in Technoctatic Plutocratic Fascism which fits well 1984. Force dividing the world, once again, between the Communists/Socialists and the Fascist with terrible consequences for humanity.
I'm not Left or Right and I believe that paradigm is one the biggest traps.
Left and Right is just an illusion of choice—absolutely! I'm seeing the same thing happening with Trump, and I can't say I'm surprised. People got fed up with socialist policies, and elected the other extreme instead. You articulated it well, but I hope you're wrong as to the extent of it
Hi Melissa, apologies I've not had much contact recently but family bereavement and other issues prevented discourse. Great piece and you might be interested that I have a facsimile copy of the Typescript/Manuscript of Nineteen Eighty-Four. The original conception of the book probably goes back to at least 1943 and perhaps even to the early part of the Second World War. A 1944 notebook in the Orwell Archive has an outline for 'The Last Man in Europe' (references to that phrase crop up twice in the published novel after Winston's torture). Despite how we value the book today, Orwell offered before the book was published...
"I am not pleased with the book but I am not absolutely dissatisfied. I first thought of it in 1943. I think it is a good idea but the execution could have been better if I had not written it under the influence of T.B. I haven't definitely fixed on the title but I am hesitating between 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' and 'The Last Man in Europe'."
Thanks so much for the quote and the tips, Harry. I'll have to hunt for that outline in the Orwell Archive—that'll be a great find.
Does your facsimile copy look like this (https://www.amazon.com/Nineteen-Eighty-Four-Facsimile-Extant-Manuscript/dp/0151660344)? I bought one which is currently collecting dust, and I keep telling myself I'm going to open it one day.
I'm sorry to hear that about your loss. I wish you the best.
Thanks for the condolences Melissa and yes, that's the one - bought 40 years ago and cost me £25 (probably $40 at the time). It's an interesting browse showing how Orwell developed the book.
I shelled out a bit more than that, haha! You've inspired me to pick it up one of these days.
Sylvia Topp's book his wife, Eileen – The Making of George Orwell while long is enjoyable and interesting.
The fact that Sylvia was married (-or partnered, I don't remember which.) to a beatnik poet living on the lower east side (Back when I was a card carrying latter day beatnik living there, as well as long before my arrival. grin) probably gave her much insight regarding life with a writer.
The book Eileen actually inspired a lot of this (I think you recommended it to me a while ago, and I got around to reading it recently). Eileen was an amazing woman, and the book puts a lot in perspective (although I never looked up Sylvia—thanks for the background).
Your beatnik days must have been something. Thanks for reading, Jim!
Denying credit where it isn't due, no I didn't recommend this one I recommended another one, I found Sylvia's quite lately myself.
& yep, those days were a great time to be in NYC.
Ah, well it was someone on Substack, anyway! It was a great book.
Very interesting Melissa! I learned a few new points. In some Consciousness still survives.
Unfortunately it seems to me The Biden Disaster and Trump/Musk "fixing" things will bring in Technoctatic Plutocratic Fascism which fits well 1984. Force dividing the world, once again, between the Communists/Socialists and the Fascist with terrible consequences for humanity.
I'm not Left or Right and I believe that paradigm is one the biggest traps.
Left and Right is just an illusion of choice—absolutely! I'm seeing the same thing happening with Trump, and I can't say I'm surprised. People got fed up with socialist policies, and elected the other extreme instead. You articulated it well, but I hope you're wrong as to the extent of it
I hope so too Melissa but each new day demonstrates otherwise.