Who is Eric Arthur Blair and why are we celebrating his birthday today?
Eric Arthur Blair – famously known as George Orwell – was born on June 25, 1903 and died on January 21, 1950. Known for his dystopian novels 1984 and Animal Farm, George Orwell was passionate in railing against totalitarianism. He joined in the Spanish Civil War, walking up to John McNair upon his arrival and proclaiming: “I’ve come to fight against fascism.” He was sent back to England after he was shot in the throat, where he continued writing and became a BBC East Correspondent during WWII. Though quiet, he had an interesting wit; he had a pet rooster named Henry Ford and a poodle named Marx. Orwell was a staunch anti-Stalinist and published Animal Farm in 1945. 1984 was published in 1949. In one of his lesser known works, Road to Wigan Pier, Orwell wrote: “The people can be trusted to behave decently if you will only let them alone.” His novels continue to inspire people to question authority to this day
