Class Description
George Orwell is one of the very few writers whose name has come into common usage; “Orwellian” refers to aspects of society that embody totalitarian tendencies, such as omnipresent surveillance, the repressive apparatus of state terror, and the distortion of language for political ends. Throughout his career, Orwell engaged with all of the great issues of his day: the injustices of imperial rule; the economic upheaval of the 1930s; the socialist alternative to capitalism; the conflict between democracy and fascism, including during the Spanish Civil War; and, above all, with the struggle between freedom and totalitarianism. Through a consideration of major works from both the 1930s and 1940s, as well as important essays, we will explore how Orwell came to be regarded as the conscience of his generation.
Frank Biletz received his PhD in history from the University of Chicago, with a primary specialization in modern British and Irish history, and secondary fields in modern German and Spanish history. He is currently Adjunct Instructor in History at Loyola University Chicago and has been teaching seminars at the Newberry since 1994.
What to Expect
Format: In Person
Class Capacity: 24
Class Style: Mix of lecture and discussion; participation encouraged
Materials List
Required
- George Orwell, A Collection of Essays. Mariner Books, 1970. ISBN: 978-0156186001
- George Orwell, 1984: 75th Anniversary Edition. Berkeley, 2003. ISBN: 978-0452284234
Recommended
- George Orwell, Homage to Catalonia. Mariner Books, 2015. ISBN: 978-0544382046
- George Orwell, The Road to Wigan Pier. Mariner Books, 2012. ISBN: 978-0156767507
First Reading
- For the first class meeting, participants should read “Such, Such Were the Joys,” “Charles Dickens,” “The Art of Donald McGill,” “Raffles and Miss Blandish,” and “England, Your England” in A Collection of Essays.
A Brief Syllabus
- The Englishness of George Orwell
- Orwell and the Empire
- The Lower Depths
- Orwell in the North
- Orwell in Spain
- Orwell and the Politics of Language
- Orwell on Jura
- Orwell and Totalitarianism
Cost and Registration
8 Sessions, $300 ($270 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.
We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($300), Community Supported ($280), and Sponsor ($320). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.
To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.
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