During his life time Orwell was best known for his Journalistic output, both in the British Press and in books such as Homage to Catalonia (describing his activities during the Spanish Civil War), and Down and out in Paris and London (describing a period of poverty in these cities).
Orwell was a committed socialist for most of his life, as a result of many of the experiences described in his books, in opposition to his middle class upbringing. "You have nothing to lose but your aitches" as he once said in mockery of the strong rules over middle class pronounciation of the time.
His is probably best remembered in modern times for two of his novels, namely Animal Farm, and 1984. These former is an allegory regarding the corruption of the socialist ideals of the Russian Revolution with the onset of Stalinism, and the latter is Orwells prophetic vision of the results of such totalitarianism. Both of these books are often represented as being critical of Socialism per se, which is only credible whilst in ignorance of Orwells own opinions.
Orwell died young as the result of tuburculosis which he probably contracted during the events described in "Down and out..."
Books by Orwell include:
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