50 pages • 1 hour read
Coming Up for Air
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Background
Authorial Context: George Orwell
George Orwell, born Eric Arthur Blair on June 25, 1903, was an influential British author known for his penetrating insights and powerful critiques of political systems and societal norms. Born in India and raised in England, Orwell’s first-hand experiences with policing, war, and imperial forces had an important influence on his writing career. Orwell’s most famous works are Animal Farm (1945), a biting allegory that satirizes the Russian Revolution and subsequent totalitarianism, and 1984 (1949), a dystopian novel that portrays a totalitarian society where individuality is crushed, and government surveillance reigns supreme. His pessimistic visions of the future resonate into the modern day. Orwell is credited for introducing the terms “Big Brother,” “thought police,” and “thought crime” into the English language.
Orwell's personal life was marked by a diverse range of experiences. He was born in British Colonial India, where his father’s family had long been established as priests and civil servants. Orwell was raised and educated in England, earning a scholarship to Eton but leaving without a degree. In 1922, Orwell joined the Indian Imperial Police in Burma, then a province of British India. Orwell’s time in India shaped his critical views of imperialism and bureaucracy. From 1927 to 1928, Orwell lived in working-class neighborhoods in London and then Paris, which inspired his first book, Down and Out in Paris and London, published in 1933. In 1936, he joined anti-fascist forces fighting in Spain’s Civil War and published a memoir, Homage to Catalonia, about his experiences. Two years later, while recuperating in Morocco from injuries sustained during the war, Orwell wrote Coming Up For Air.
In 1947, Orwell was diagnosed with tuberculosis. He continued to write throughout his illness, and 1984, his best-known novel, was published less than a year before his death in 1950, at age 46. Orwell’s works continue to provoke critical debate about the nature of authority, the threat of totalitarianism, and the importance of individual freedom.
Historical Context: England Between the World Wars
The period between the two World Wars (known as the interwar years, or interbellum) saw profound social, political, and economic transformations in England. The aftermath of World War I left the nation grappling with the domestic consequences of the conflict and seeking to redefine its role on the world stage. At home, the war had taken a toll on industries, and the country struggled to regain its prewar economic strength. Unemployment was high, and the government had to implement various measures to stimulate the economy. The interwar period witnessed the rise of new industries, such as automobile manufacturing and electrical engineering, which brought some relief. However, economic recovery was slow and uneven, particularly in regions heavily dependent on declining industries such as coal mining and shipbuilding.
Politically, Britain experienced a shift in power dynamics. The Labour Party emerged as a major force, advocating for social reforms and workers' rights. The 1926 General Strike demonstrated the growing tensions between labor and capital. The Conservative Party, meanwhile, sought to maintain traditional values and preserve the fading British Empire. Both parties struggled to find effective solutions to the foreign and domestic challenges of the time. Internationally, Britain's position as a global power was challenged by the United States and Germany. The country faced increasing economic competition, and the 1930s saw the rise of protectionist measures and the erosion of free trade.
The interwar years also witnessed a wave of social change and cultural experimentation. Women's suffrage had been achieved in 1918, and women increasingly asserted their rights and challenged traditional gender roles. The Roaring Twenties brought jazz, flapper fashion, slick modern aesthetics, and a vibrant nightlife to urban centers like London. However, these changes were not universally embraced, and there was a sense of cultural unease and anxiety about the future. The tension of the interwar period is an important theme in Orwell’s Coming Up For Air.
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