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alicechris's Reviews (202)
Tough to read but really worth it - Lauren is an incredibly compelling narrator and a setting that might feel far off (especially given how near the dates in the book have become) feels all too real because of how well written this book is
'The only hope is to keep political controversy on a plane where exhaustive discussion is possible... So long as no argument is produced except a scream of "Trotsky-Fascist", the discussion cannot even begin... In such circumstances there can be no argument - the necessary minimum of agreement cannot be reached... It is as though in the middle of a chess tournament one competitor should suddenly begin screaming that the other is guilty of arson or bigamy. The point that is really at issue remains untouched.'
Orwell's account of the disintegration of the Republicans, and his own experiences as a soldier during the Spanish Civil War paints a pretty bleak picture of both leftism and humanity, and in places felt like a disturbingly relevant read. I've knocked a star off because Orwell's wife Eileen is simply referred to as 'my wife' throughout the book and her own role in the Republican efforts is never mentioned, which does undermine all the otherwise quite nice writing about equality.
Orwell's account of the disintegration of the Republicans, and his own experiences as a soldier during the Spanish Civil War paints a pretty bleak picture of both leftism and humanity, and in places felt like a disturbingly relevant read. I've knocked a star off because Orwell's wife Eileen is simply referred to as 'my wife' throughout the book and her own role in the Republican efforts is never mentioned, which does undermine all the otherwise quite nice writing about equality.
