George Orwell (1903–1950) was an English writer best known for sharp political fiction and essays. On Thornbook you’ll find summaries of his most famous works, where power, propaganda, truth, and freedom collide.

Quick Facts

Full name: Eric Arthur Blair

Nationality: English

Known for: Dystopian and political fiction

Major themes: Power, surveillance, truth, class, propaganda

What Orwell Writes About

Power: how institutions control people and language

Society & Class: inequality, labor, and social pressure

Identity: selfhood under fear and censorship

Good vs Evil: moral compromise under authoritarianism

Human Nature: conformity, ambition, and betrayal

Most Famous Books

1984 – surveillance, propaganda, and truth under total control.

Animal Farm – a political fable about revolution and corruption.

Where to Start

• Best first read: Animal Farm (short, clear, powerful)
• Big classic: 1984

Why Read Orwell?

Orwell makes big political ideas personal. His stories show how language can be used as a weapon—and why protecting truth matters.

If You Like Orwell, Try

Aldous Huxley

Ray Bradbury

Margaret Atwood

Franz Kafka