George Orwell, The Road to Wigan Pier

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 1937

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Autobiography (any)
Novel

Resources

Written in 1937, The Road to Wigan Pier was the culmination of almost two months (31 January 1936 to 25 March 1936) spent by Orwell in Lancashire and Yorkshire researching the conditions of the poor and unemployed in northern England. The book is divided into two parts, with the first part comprising largely descriptive material and the second part consisting of largely judgmental opinions and conclusions.

In Part I of The Road to Wigan Pier, Orwell describes the appalling conditions he encountered, particularly the plight of mining families where the male collier was unemployed for reasons of market-forces, illness or disability. In order to probe the painful experiences of proud, reserved and defensive miners, …

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1994 words

Citation: Williams, Nigel. "The Road to Wigan Pier". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 23 May 2013 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=7600, accessed 22 November 2024.]

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