George Orwell, Inside the Whale

Nigel Williams

Ed. by Peter Childs, Newman University
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.08: English Writing and Culture of the early Twentieth Century , 1900-1945.
Vol. editors: Chris Baldick (Goldsmiths College, University of London), Peter Childs (Newman University), Louise McDonald (Newman University)

Dates

First circulation or publication Mar 1940

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Non-Fiction
- Commentary / Criticism (literary)
Essays/ Lectures (any)

Resources

Published in 1940, Inside the Whale and Other Essays coincided with Britain’s early and strategically disastrous entry into World War II and includes the eponymous essay “Inside the Whale”. This erudite and perceptive centre-piece is a largely affirmative review of Henry Miller’s novel Tropic of Cancer and provides a polymath’s overview of early twentieth century literary movements and the countervailing artistic limitations imposed by totalitarian governments. Orwell’s analysis begins with the empathetic assertion that one could emulate Henry Miller by assuming a Jonah-like stance of willful indifference to one’s social and political milieu; one could seek ultimate refuge in religion or perhaps the …

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2121 words

Citation: Williams, Nigel. "Inside the Whale". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 29 August 2013 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=4459, accessed 25 November 2024.]

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