George Orwell's Timeline
June 25, 1903
Birth
George Orwell, Originally named Eric Arthur Blair, was born in Motihari, Bengal which belonged to the British Colony, it is now known as India. Working for the Indian Civil Service was Richard Walmesley Blair, Orwell’s father who was supervising opium trading in Asia. [1]
1904
At the young age at 1, Orwell Moves to England with Ida mabel Limouzin Blair his mother and his older sister Majorie.[1] They were raised in England and were occasionally able to see their father returning from India.[2]
May 1917 - December 1921
Orwell entered Eton the famous boys’ school in England, as a King’s Scholarship student. Four years later, without a diploma Orwell leaves Elton in December 1921.[3]
June, 1922
George Orwell’s first novel was in Jun 1922 where he passes his entrance exam for the indian Imperial Police. [3] As Orwell was sent to Burma, the Imperial police was set up so that law and order were controlled in their colonies. [1]
While in burma, his experiences contributed many for his essays “A Hanging” and “Burmese Days” his first novel. The novel Burmese days is a representation of corruption and prejudice in Burma.[2]
While in burma, his experiences contributed many for his essays “A Hanging” and “Burmese Days” his first novel. The novel Burmese days is a representation of corruption and prejudice in Burma.[2]
June, 1927
Five years later working in the Indian Imperial Police, Orwell catches dengue fever and leaves Burma due to the poor health. Orwell resigns from the police after his return to England and decides to become a writer. [1]
During the following years, Orwell travels around England and France living jointly with the poor. This was to try to obtain material for his oncoming works. [3]
1933
As Orwell’s name originally Eric Arthur Blair, he adopts the name George Orwell a combination of the monarch back then and a river. Soon afterwards he publishes his first book, “Down and Out in Paris London” a narrative based on this vagrant-like experiences through out Europe. [1]
1935
George Orwell publishes his second book named A Clergyman’s Daughter. The book was written the year previous year when Orwell was recovering from pneumonia. [2] The novel tells a story about a girl named Dorothy Hare living the parish life in rural England during the 1930s. [3]
January 31, 1936
To investigate a life of a coal miner, Orwell takes a two-month visit to northern England. The novel The Road to Wigan Pier was published with his findings through the trip one year later. Orwell realizes the horror of the life of a coal miner and their working conditions points a significant stage through his development in politics. Orwell also sates a keen argument in giving support of socialism. [2]
June 9, 1936
Eileen Maud O'Shaughnessy is married to George Orwell. They live in a small cottage in Hertfordshire, England. [1]
1937
Orwell fights for the Republican government for six months in the Spanish War, as he also supports the anti-Stalinist Unit. During the war, orwell got shot by a Kremlin supporting sniper but surprisingly survived.[3] Through the experiences in Spain it had built up the strong hatred towards totalitarianism and has based his following works from this basis. [1]
April, 1938
Homage to Catalonia is published. The non-fiction novel is about Orwell’s experiences during Spain. [1]
1939
As england enters World War II, Orwell decides to volunteer for military services but has been turned down due to the bad health. Orwell then writes prolifically, essays, journals, and a book entitled Coming Up For Air set in England. [1]
August 1941
Orwell aceepts a job at BBC as a wartime propaganda broadcaster for India.[2]
June, 1944
Orwell adopts a baby boy with his wife and is named Richard Horatio Blair. During the same month a bomb hits London near the apartment. Although they are left uninjured, the apartment is destroyed. [1]
March 29, 1945
Eileen O'Shaughnessy wife of Orwell dies during a surgical operation hysterectomy. Orwell raises his sone with the help of Avril Blair his sister. [3]
August, 17, 1945
Orwell writes Animal Farm: A Fairy Story, it is soon published in the United Kingdom. The novel had to first overcome many denials from publishers who believed that it was too strongly criticizing Russia who was a wartime ally of Britain. This was one of Orwell’s well known works, it is later published in the United States.[3]
October 13, 1949
As Orwell’s health is growing very poor from tuberculosis, he decides to have a second marriage with Sonia Brownell an editorial assistant in the hospital room. [2]
January 21, 1950
A Year after Orwell’s second marrige, he dies of tuberculosis. Orwell is then buried in Oxfordshire, England, under a simple line “Here lies Eric Arthur Blair.” [2]
Bibliography:
[1] George Orwell - Biography & Works. (n.d.). Literature Collection. Retrieved March 28, 2013, from http://www.literaturecollection.com/a/orwell/
[2] George Orwell - Complete works, Biography, Quotes, Essays. (n.d.). George Orwell - Complete works, Biography, Quotes, Essays. Retrieved February 28, 2013, from http://www.george-orwell.org
[3] George Orwell Timeline of Important Dates. (n.d.). Shmoop: Homework Help, Teacher Resources, Test Prep. Retrieved March 28, 2013, from http://www.shmoop.com/george-orwell/timeline.html
[1] George Orwell - Biography & Works. (n.d.). Literature Collection. Retrieved March 28, 2013, from http://www.literaturecollection.com/a/orwell/
[2] George Orwell - Complete works, Biography, Quotes, Essays. (n.d.). George Orwell - Complete works, Biography, Quotes, Essays. Retrieved February 28, 2013, from http://www.george-orwell.org
[3] George Orwell Timeline of Important Dates. (n.d.). Shmoop: Homework Help, Teacher Resources, Test Prep. Retrieved March 28, 2013, from http://www.shmoop.com/george-orwell/timeline.html