Such, Such Were the Joys and Other Essays Audiobook By George Orwell cover art

Such, Such Were the Joys and Other Essays

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Such, Such Were the Joys and Other Essays

By: George Orwell
Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
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Viewed as too libelous to print in England until 1968, the title essay in this collection reveals the abuse Orwell experienced as a child at an expensive and snobbish boarding school and offers insights into his lifelong concern for the oppressed.

"Why I Write" describes Orwell's sense of political purpose, and the classic essay "Politics and the English Language" insists on clarity and precision in communication in order to avoid the Newspeak later described in 1984.

Other essays focus on Gandhi (he "disinfected the political air"), Dickens ("no novelist has shown the same power of entering into the child's point of view"), Kipling ("a jingo imperialist"), Henry Miller (who told Orwell that involvement in the Spanish war was an act of an idiot), and England "a family with the wrong members in control").

©1954 Double Day Inc. (P)1994 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Politicians Politics & Activism War Nonfiction
Intellectual Stimulation • Precise Prose • Excellent Narration • Insightful Essays • Moral Purpose • Dry Wit
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What made the experience of listening to Such, Such Were the Joys and Other Essays the most enjoyable?

Davidson gave fine voice to Orwell's solid writing

Any additional comments?

Many points in the recording sound poorly spliced together. Parts of the text are missing.

Great writing and reader but poor recording

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An enjoyable intellectual encounter . A rare glimpse into a writer's thoughts, outside his novels.

Poof, and hear is Orwell!

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A pretty great book that I think is really great and I liked it. I recommend this book.

A cool book

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I agree almost completely with the earlier review here. The pieces are all interesting, very illuminating, and, of course, exceptionally well written. The skips in the audio are mainly in the second half, and while they are irritating, the book is well worth the trouble.

Four Stars - Maybe Five Without the Skips

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Don't listen if driving...could meke you fall asleep. Not a subject matter I foumd entertaining

Orwell was an odd duck...

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This now has me searching for more essay collections from my other favorite authors. Neat.

14 words.

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Orwell’s style, precise and humorous, infused with moral purpose, is behind his greatness as a writer

Writing Well

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I most loved getting Orwell’s insight into all the wrists of his time. As well as “why I write” what a gem of a collection.

Incredibly Insightful.

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Overall, it was excellent. I only have one criticism. The audio skipped a lot. That’s it. Everything thing else was perfect. I would appreciate it if audible could fix the skipping. I’m going to buy a print of these essays so I can read the parts I missed.

Such, such were the joys and other essays

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And what a writer is he! It is my new year’s blessing to encounter and complete/completing “ Down and out in Paris and London” and now Such such was the joys”

Happily to say these two led me to order Orwell’s 1,400 pages essay collection as a gift to myself.

“I knew I should be a writer”

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