Notes on Nationalism

“The sense of reality becomes unhinged… the sense of right and wrong becomes unhinged also.”

Notes on Nationalism (1945) is a sharp and incisive essay that reflects upon the psychological and political dangers of nationalism, warning that it demands power and allegiance at the expense of reality.

Written just after the end of the Second World War when Europe was reckoning with the devastation of fascism, totalitarianism, and ideological extremism, the essay reflects Orwell’s growing concern with how political factions distort truth to serve their cause – a theme that would be further explored three years later in his dystopian novel, 1984.

Born Eric Arthur Blair, George Orwell (1903-1950) was a British novelist, essayist, and critic famous for his insightful social and political commentary. His personal engagement with real world issues imbues his work with a sense of social conscience that continues to resonate with listeners, and his two most famous novels, Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four, continue to captivate audiences worldwide.

Public Domain (P)2021 SNR Audio