George Orwell made this chilling comment about writers and fear in his 1940 essay, ‘Inside the Whale’.

It has been included a new, pocket-sized edition, ‘Inside the Whale: On Writers and Writing’, which brings together four of George Orwell’s essays. Each one is concerned with a different set of authors or ideas. They collectively give his perspective on the literary world.

Being asked to review this neat little volume for the Orwell Society was a welcome prompt to re-read George Orwell’s views on books and the bookish.

It was good to be reminded how he can be both devastatingly cutting and encouraging at the same time. Quite a feat.

Find out more on this wisdom-packed tome in the full review. Free to access on The Orwell Society website.