Volume 19, Number 8 · November 16, 1972
The Truth about Orwell
By Stephen Spender
The Unknown Orwell
by Peter Stansky, by William Abrahams
Knopf, 316 pp., $8.95
George Orwell
by Raymond Williams
Viking, 102 pp., $1.65 (paper)
The Road to Wigan Pier
by George Orwell
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 232 pp., $2.25 (paper)
Just as I sat down to write this article, a letter appeared in The Times Literary Supplement (October 13) from Orwell's widow, Sonia Orwell, stating that The Unknown Orwell by Peter Stansky and William Abrahams contains 'mistakes and inaccuracies' and misinterprets Orwell's character, and that it was written without her cooperation (with the result that the authors were not permitted to see important documents at University College, London, which are in her trust). In refusing to assist the authors she was respecting Orwell's wish, stated in his will, that no biography of him should be written. At the same time, since she now realizes that there is no way of preventing people from writing about Orwell's life, she has authorized Professor Bernard Crick, who is already writing about Orwell's political thought, to write a biography, and she has given him 'irrevocable' access to the materials.
Review, 3813 words
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