Few writers’ words and ideas are abused daily on the Internet as much as George Orwell’s – and now most of his work is out of copyright. On the anniversary of Eric Blair’s death, we present a champion Orwell-off. Dorian Lynskey, author of The Ministry Of Truth, talks to DJ Taylor, author of Orwell: The Life, about Blair’s underrated works and over-cited quotes, David Bowie’s 1984: The Musical, and why Orwell would have baulked at the modern misuse of “Orwellian”. 

“Orwell’s life and legend now fit perfectly the roles we’ve created for them.” – DJ Taylor

“Words have been so redefined now that ‘Orwellian’ is routinely used as the opposite of everything that Orwell stood for.” – DJ Taylor

“Orwell was an imperfect man of his time, and very good at dramatising his own life.” – DJ Taylor

“Orwell hated writing film reviews so much that he paid his friend Inez Holden to go and watch the plays for him.” – DJ Taylor

“Anthony Powell used to say ‘How George would have loved to be a poet killed in the war…’.” – DJ Taylor

Presented by Dorian Lynskey. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers Jelena Sofronijevic and Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters ProductionSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices