Professor Peter Davison
Death of “unparalleled” Orwell academic and editor
THE ORWELL SOCIETY is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Professor Peter Davison, whose work in the field of George Orwell studies is unparalleled and who, with the help of his late wife Sheila, undertook the herculean task of editing the 20-volume Complete Works, published in 1998. Professor Davison, who was born in 1926, died in the early hours of August 16th, 2022.
Orwell Society Patron, and Orwell’s son, Richard Blair, said: ”Peter was an honorary founder member of The Orwell Society and we will miss him deeply as will the millions of Orwell readers and academics, whose debt to Peter is incalculable.”
Professor Davison (L) with Professor Jean Seaton of the Orwell Foundation
Orwell Society Founder and long-time friend of Peter, Dione Venables, said: “Peter provided untiring guidance and encouragement to me in the years spent before we made The Orwell Society a reality in 2011”.
The Orwell Society sends its condolences to Peter’s family.
Peter’s memoirs, written in 2020 are available on The Orwell Society website and Peter’s collection of Orwell-related books and other material, donated by him to the Society, is on permanent loan to the Museum of Wigan Life.
*
August 17th 2022
Readers of Orwell have been fortunate in first having Sonia Orwell and Ian Angus produce the excellent 4 volumes of ‘Collected Essays, Journalism and Letters’ (1968) and later Peter Davison’s comprehensive ‘Complete Works’ in 20 volumes (1998). No other 20th century English writer has been served so well.
The debt to the indefatigable Peter Davison by all of us who ponder the life and work of George Orwell is indeed incalculable. It cannot be repaid, but only acknowledged—and honored by building on his work in the same spirit of unflagging persistence and scrupulous integrity that Peter exemplified. We are all standing on his broad, strong, 20-volume shoulders!
Really sad news.
I have just sold a copy of the Lost Orwell to Australia signed by Professor Davison and containing some handwritten and typed letters he sent around the time of its publication. I had not realised how great his contribution had been, and am humbled
Sad news for everyone who shares an interest in Orwell and his writing. We all benefit from Peter’s extraordinary work and owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude. He was also generous in making his collection of Orwell books available to researchers at Wigan Library.
Our sincere condolences to Peter’s family and many friends.
Readers of Orwell were well served by the 4 volumes of ‘Collected Essays, Letters and Journalism’(1968) edited by Sonia Orwell and Ian Angus. Peter Davison’s magnificent and comprehensive 20 volume edition of ‘Complete Works’ (1998) has made Orwell’s writings the most accessible of any 20th century author.
I am very sad to hear of Professor Peter Davison’s death. When Peter Davison’s comprehensive ‘Complete Works’ in 20 volumes of George Orwell was published in 1998, my husband, Gordon Bowker was writing George Orwell Biography. Peter was very generous in giving Gordon valuable information and they had challenging and delightful discussions on Orwell. My sincere condolences to Peter’ Family. My thoughts and prayers are with them.
Do you know how I can connect with a member of the family? Thank you, Sam Roberts, The New YOrk Times
I would like to add a Belgian connection to the activities of Professor Peter Davison.
I contacted him presumably in 2012 or 2013 when I was writing ‘George Orwell’s commander in Spain. The enigma of Georges Kopp’. He was very friendly and helpful although he didn’t know me. We communicated via telephone and mail. He talked about the relation between Georges Kopp and George Orwell but also about his children and about his house that was to be redecorated. I remember his fragile voice vividly.
I was over the moon when he accepted my offer to write a epilogue on my book.
The Flemish national cultural channel ‘Canvas’ also broadcast a documentary ‘Burmese Days’. Hendrik Willemyns a documentary maker (and member of the pop group Arsenal) interviewed Peter Davison on Orwell. It was impressive.
Although I’ve never met Peter Davison I will remember him with gratitude.
When I met Peter and Shiela in 1981 at the University of Kent, Canterbury (where Peter supervised my first round of graduate work), I had been collecting American editions if Orwell’s work for about 15 years. Despite Peter’s remarkable tenure as the Bibliographical Society’s editor, he was eager for an additional editorial challenge. Then two calls came almost simultaneously: one for an editor capable of handling the serious problems connected with Orwell’s texts, the other for Secretary to the Delegates at Albany, the Piccadilly residence of at least a few of the great and good. He joked that the latter post had generally been filled by a retired Brigadier—but that he would apply as “P. H. Davison, Private, Retired.” What splendid adventures unfolded for Peter and Shiela when he took both positions so close to each other. I returned to the States; Peter selected texts he wanted from my Orwell collection and off they went as a token of thanks for his extraordinarily fine, indeed unsurpassed, teaching. How proud he and Shiela always were of their equally talented sons! What well-lived lives!