Homage to Catalonia by George OrwellMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
George Orwell is an enigma to me - a very great one. I just get engrossed in anything he has written. He has the ability to be depressing, defeatist, morose - yet I can't put down anything he writes. I've never known anyone as compelling as this man was. This is another tale of his soul-searching exploits during the Spanish Civil War.
I think this is the pinnacle of his lifetime endeavour and real sacrifice for an alternative way of life via socialism. This is the journey, through his remarkable life, where I believe he realised equality can't work, especially trying to fight in the anarchist's brigade during this terrible civil war in Spain.
After this came Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four. Orwell's works are a stage through the journey of his deep thinking life. Sometimes via essays, biographical or fiction. This man is truly brilliant and you can see the development of his thinking if you read his publications in order. Homage to Catalonia is a very important book - a very important book indeed. I think it was the turning point in George Orwell's lifelong search for something better. I think he realised that he would never find an answer for Utopia after this experience and became resigned to why he could never find the answer with his two following stories - Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four.
C.A. Powell
The Last Days of Thunder Child
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