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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
Writing a biography of two different people in the same book seems like a hard thing to do, but Thomas Ricks pulls it off in Churchill and Orwell:the Fight for Freedom. Both men were against totalitarianism and both were influential. While Churchill was more famous during his lifetime the legacy of Orwell's books may last longer. Both Churchill and Orwell almost died before their greatest accomplishments. Churchill was hit by a car while crossing a street in New York and spent weeks in the hospital with multiple broken bones. He looked to the right(which would have worked in England) and stepped in front of a car coming from the left. Orwell was shot through the neck while fighting in with the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War. The bullet missed his spine and his arteries by millimeters and he lived to write his greatest works.
Both men were persistent. Churchill encouraged England to fight when many of his Party wanted to surrender to the Nazis. Orwell, whose real name was Eric Blair, never gave up when his writing career when sales were few and publishers reluctant. Both fought for the freedom of the individual against totalitarianism. Both were ahead of their peers is seeing reality.
Both men were persistent. Churchill encouraged England to fight when many of his Party wanted to surrender to the Nazis. Orwell, whose real name was Eric Blair, never gave up when his writing career when sales were few and publishers reluctant. Both fought for the freedom of the individual against totalitarianism. Both were ahead of their peers is seeing reality.
I was well on my way to giving this book 4 stars until the last few chapters. Here the author simultaneously criticizes those who speculate what Orwell might think of things, and then does the same himself. He also uses it as a way to share his very clear opinions on the state of things. It feels like he had another book he wanted to write.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Гарна праця і неочікуване поєднання особистостей. Якщо цікавитесь історією - рекомендую.
While reading this book, I was reminded of something from my childhood-of the first time I read Orwell's 1984. It was one of those disturbing, energizing literary experiences- like something hit my brain with a resonant frequency that buzzed and hummed for weeks and months afterwards. It's funny to remember being so affected, considering that I had since forgotten what a profound experience that book was. I suppose there are plenty of important, formative experiences that have left my conscious memory. I like to think that I would remember the really important ones, but I don't think I can continue pretending that I actually do. Either way, it is nice to know that even though I might have forgotten the experience, it still shaped who I am and how I think.
I will maybe even forget this book- the profound, engaging, and politically timely "Churchill and Orwell" by Thomas Ricks- which somehow felt meandering but purposeful, unbiased but condemning. Ricks manages to tell a fascinating story about purpose and bravery in the face of overwhelming evil, through the lives of these two much mythologized men who never crossed paths. He brushes away the saccharine heroicization and political spin that has obscured their humanity over the years, and describes each of their lives as stories of imperfect, struggling men who each found their calling in brief flashes of greatness. I was engrossed throughout, am sad to leave it behind, but will continue to think about it for at least some time before I forget it.
I will maybe even forget this book- the profound, engaging, and politically timely "Churchill and Orwell" by Thomas Ricks- which somehow felt meandering but purposeful, unbiased but condemning. Ricks manages to tell a fascinating story about purpose and bravery in the face of overwhelming evil, through the lives of these two much mythologized men who never crossed paths. He brushes away the saccharine heroicization and political spin that has obscured their humanity over the years, and describes each of their lives as stories of imperfect, struggling men who each found their calling in brief flashes of greatness. I was engrossed throughout, am sad to leave it behind, but will continue to think about it for at least some time before I forget it.
I gave this 4 stars because it made me think..
Not the kind of book I’d ordinarily read, I tackled this one for a book group. It’s interesting and I learned a lot about both men, and the world they lived in. Both came from emotionally impoverished childhoods, and both fought in their own way for freedom of the individual in the context of fascism - governments that sought to extinguish opposition.
That is still happening today, of course, and must be balanced against cultures that have prioritised individual freedom over the good of the collective to extremes.
The struggle to balance individual and collective needs is one we must all grapple with, and is likely something that will continue to be in dynamic tension.
Not the kind of book I’d ordinarily read, I tackled this one for a book group. It’s interesting and I learned a lot about both men, and the world they lived in. Both came from emotionally impoverished childhoods, and both fought in their own way for freedom of the individual in the context of fascism - governments that sought to extinguish opposition.
That is still happening today, of course, and must be balanced against cultures that have prioritised individual freedom over the good of the collective to extremes.
The struggle to balance individual and collective needs is one we must all grapple with, and is likely something that will continue to be in dynamic tension.
What a brilliant and evocative work. Two men who were quite different, who viewed a similar problem (personal liberty, for example) and came at it from different directions and perspectives. It made for a compelling and worthwhile experience. Highly recommended.
Disclaimer: Before reading this book, my knowledge of Churchill and Orwell was about as deep as the introductory paragraphs to their Wikipedia biographies. As such, I don't feel qualified to comment on the accuracy of the book, but overall, it was interesting, moved quickly, and was thought-provoking.
This was a very good snapshot into the parallel lives of two important men of an era where war was forefront. I very much enjoyed it as a biography even though they really didn't overlap, these separate stories.
A 3.5 leaning toward a 4. I haven't read much about Churchill and the compare/contrast with Orwell was an interesting way to get an overview. The parts of the book around World War II were very interesting.
The book did seem to have more detailed material on Churchill than Orwell, but that may be because he was such a popular public figure.
I was surprised that the author brought up multiple times how bad he thought Orwell's earlier novels were. I've actually found those to be readable, fun, and an interesting insight into life.
The book did seem to have more detailed material on Churchill than Orwell, but that may be because he was such a popular public figure.
I was surprised that the author brought up multiple times how bad he thought Orwell's earlier novels were. I've actually found those to be readable, fun, and an interesting insight into life.