Show notes
D.J. Taylor is a novelist, a literary critic, and the author of two biographies of George Orwell: Orwell: The Life, and Orwell: The New Life. During our conversation, D.J. talks about Orwell's life, why Orwell's books, particularly his two on totalitarianism, Animal Farm and 1984, have endured so many years after his death, and the relevance of his ideas and insights to modern times.------------Keep Talking SubstackRate on SpotifyRate on Apple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------00:00 Intro00:49 Who was George Orwell? 03:03 Why is Orwell so intriguing to D.J. Taylor? 05:01 Orwell's relevance over the past 20 years 08:21 How did Orwell capture totalitarianism so clearly? 13:30 The totalitarian impulse in Orwell 18:06 Orwell's commitment to his beliefs 21:59 A power of facing unpleasant facts 26:47 The void filled by the decline of religion 30:15 What was Orwell for? 34:58 Orwell's final years on Jura 38:48 Criticisms of Orwell 45:19 How would Orwell view modern times? 52:07 Euphemism and Newspeak today 54:43 Famous quotes from Orwell 55:45 Why does Orwell endure?
