George Orwell: A Sage for All Seasons

By: Michael Shelden, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Michael Shelden

Length: 10 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

George Orwell was more than just a writer. He was a political and social sage who valued, above all else, individual freedom. His works aren’t just entertainment - they’re cautionary tales and red flags of warning. And if we ever hope to understand threats to freedom and how to stop them, we must learn from them.

In these 24 lectures, learn how the man born as Eric Blair forged himself into a writer of international importance and renown. Mixing historical inquiry, literary analysis, and cultural biography, Professor Shelden gets at the truth of British life in the opening decades of the 20th century. These lectures cover the creation, reception, and implication of Orwell’s major works, from Burmese Days and Homage to Catalonia to Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four.

Embark on a chronological journey through Orwell’s life and times, from his youth in Edwardian England to his formative experiences at boarding school (captured in the brilliant essay, “Such, Such Were the Joys”) to his being shot through the neck by a sniper while serving as a freedom fighter against the forces of General Franco. Along the way, examine the experiences - and the people - Orwell drew upon when forging himself into a writer and a citizen of the world.

Here, in one comprehensive package, is a compendium of all Orwell’s many personas: the writer brave enough to speak truth to power, the soldier willing to sacrifice his life for others, the citizen willing to expose the injustices, and the sage for freedom-loving civilizations everywhere.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

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Superb presentation

I don’t know if I’ve had any teaching company that contained so much first hand-research information. I suppose scientific research is a very personal research but this is a biographical treatment. The presentationspresentations are lively, and I have a feeling that much had to be cut from the final presentation to be able to be delivered in a timely manner

Outstanding.

Michael Shelden’s A Sage for All Seasons was not the dry college lecture series I had expected, Erich Blair the man and George Orwell the struggling author came alive in these lively, easy to listen to presentations. Shelden gives historical context to Orwell’s body of work. I had recently listened to a collection of Orwell’s essays and this lecture series is a perfect compliment to many of those writings. I recommend any fan of Orwell give this lecture series a listen.

Critical for real fans

I’ve read all his books and several biographies. This has plenty of material I’ve never known, at a relaxed pace.

Fascinating

Eric Blair, aka George Orwell, led a sad and often lonely life. This is a detailed and fascinating look into what led him to write 1984 and Animal Farm.

But beware, Sheldon is an absolutely TERRIBLE reader. This is definitely not a lecture series - it is a man reading what he has written. And Shelden pauses at odd moments and stresses odd words throughout the presentation, chuckling when he wants to be sure you "get" the irony or joke he's just read; this becomes annoying early on and almost unbearable by the end of the presentation.

I enjoyed the book in spite of, absolutely not because of, the reader.

excellent listen

The narrator has an excellent voice and the story of the late great Orwell is an amazing one.

Outstanding! I Learned a Great Deal

Really enjoyed this overview of the life and work of George Orwell. Professor Shelden knows his subject and that comes through in every section. I learned a great deal and enjoyed the time spent listening. Shelden, a professor, is not a professional narrator, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. This might be better in an on-site class, but I would still highly recommend it to anyone interested in Orwell or English literary history generally.

A Man of His Time and All Time

This is an superb account of the life of Eric Blair and the works of George Orwell. Through the author's extensive research, I learned much about the life of Eric Blair that I did not know. He greatly improved my understanding of the ideas of Orwell. This course prompted me to read or reread many of Orwell's essays and reviews. Orwell's unique individualism, nostalgia, idealism, and insight shine through in every chapter. A great Great Course.

Perceptive and Thorough Study

Orwell does not fit into neat categories, and Michael Sheldon does a great job of revealing a man deeply committed yet fiercely independent. This independence, along with his intense focus on literal truth above ideology, is what enabled Orwell to deal with the problems of totalitarianism — Left and Right, then and now. A very rewarding course.

Excellent and Fascinating!

Dr. Shelden does an amazing job teaching us about one of the most enlightening and prophetic authors of the last 100 years. I have listened to many superb Great Courses, this is the absolute best. Thank you, Dr. Shelden.

Expert biographer

He was investigated Orwell’s life for a while and lectures very well on it. Orwell’s life has many lessons, and the speaker details them well.