The Orwell Society
UK-based literary and educational organisation dedicated to promoting the work and legacy of George Orwell.
Patron: Richard Blair
George Orwell
George Orwell is the renowned author of Nineteen Eighty-Four, Animal Farm, Homage to Catalonia, and numerous essays on politics, culture, and society.
The Orwell Society, founded in 2011, aims to encourage a deeper understanding of Orwell’s ideas, his commitment to truth, and his relevance in contemporary times.
The Orwell Society Mission
The Orwell Society operates with the primary goal of advancing the study and appreciation of Orwell’s literary and journalistic contributions.
The Society is independent and is not Party Political. The Society supports research into Orwell’s life and work including that on the themes of totalitarianism, freedom of speech, and social justice, and encourages the application of his insights to modern political and cultural issues.
Activities
The society organises a variety of activities, including:
- Lectures and Conferences – Hosting talks by Orwell scholars, journalists, and writers who explore Orwell’s influence on literature and political thought.
- Educational Initiatives – Supporting students, researchers, and writers through essay competitions and grants to encourage engagement with Orwell’s work.
- Publications and Newsletters – Producing articles, book reviews, and newsletters to keep members updated on Orwell-related discussions and new research.
- Guided Tours and Visits – Arranging visits to key Orwellian sites, such as his birthplace in India, his homes in the UK, and locations significant to The Road to Wigan Pier and Homage to Catalonia.
- Social Media and Online Presence – Engaging with a wider audience through its website, blog, and social media platforms, where Orwell’s ideas are discussed in relation to contemporary issues.
How to Join The Orwell Society
The Orwell Society is a registered UK charity and all subscriptions and donations go towards promoting the life and work of George Orwell.
We welcome members from all backgrounds, including academics, students, and general readers interested in Orwell’s work. Members gain access to exclusive events, research materials, and discussions on Orwell’s enduring impact.
Latest Articles
George Orwell Always in the News 24
In response to ‘Blake’s townhouse could be open to all‘ (Guardian 8 September 2026) What did George Orwell say about William Blake? * ‘Blake was not a politician, but there is more understanding of the nature of capitalist society in a poem like ‘I wander through each charter’d street’ than in three-quarters of Socialist literature.’ → Read full article
George Orwell Always in the News Number 23
* In response to (among others) ‘What different world maps get right – and what they get wrong’ (BBC 5th September 2026): Two extracts from George Orwell’s ‘As I Please’ column Tribune, 11th February 1944 [M]aps are tricky things, to be regarded with the same suspicion as photographs and statistics. It is an interesting minor → Read full article
Eugene Brieux
Orwell and Brieux. In a 1947 column George Orwell drew attention to ‘one of the few sensible things in the army system, i.e., its straightforward attitude towards venereal disease‘. The condition had appeared in Orwell’s earlier writings, though it was as a repeated mention of the French playwright Eugene Brieux. A Kind of Compulsion. George → Read full article
Did George Orwell Say: VI
Did George Orwell say that the lower classes smell? * George Orwell did not say ‘The lower classes smell’, he quoted the phrase as something he heard in common use when he was a child. Orwell dedicates a paragraph to the phrase in his book The Road to Wigan Pier (1937): But there was another → Read full article
The Orwell Statue
The Orwell Society owns the statue of Orwell (sculpted by Martin Jennings) outside Broadcasting House the headquarters of the BBC in London.
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