The Oxford Handbook of George Orwell

This insightful examination of Orwell's work features contributions from global experts, highlighting both familiar themes and innovative ideas, including feminism and Afrofuturism.

This comprehensive volume offers a deep dive into the thoughts and writings of George Orwell through a collection of forty-eight chapters crafted by an international team of specialists. It explores well-known themes such as Orwell's journalism while also introducing fresh perspectives on topics like feminism, Afrofuturism, and queer speculative fiction. The book serves as a wide-ranging reconsideration of Orwell's life and work, highlighting the intricate connections among his novels, essays, diaries, columns, letters, and reviews.

Structured thematically and topically, The Oxford Handbook of George Orwell addresses both familiar and lesser-known aspects of Orwell's extensive output. The initial section delves into his experiences as a writer, reader, and broadcaster, while subsequent chapters examine influences from literary figures ranging from Shakespeare to modernists. The book also contextualizes Orwell's writing within various political landscapes, addressing both his well-known perspectives on Englishness and his more obscure reflections on the absurd.

In addition to examining Orwell's professional activities and literary influences, the Handbook draws connections between Orwell and his politically engaged contemporaries, illuminating both similarities and differences in their writings. The concluding section considers Orwell's enduring literary and socio-political legacies, incorporating innovative analyses that engage with contemporary discussions in feminism, Afrofuturism, and queer speculative fiction.