George Orwell Biography and Timeline

Birth of George Orwell

Birth of George Orwell, born Eric Arthur Blair, in Motihari.

Role range: 1903-1950

Return to England

Moves to England with his mother and sister.

Role range: 1903-1950

St Cyprian's School

Begins schooling at St Cyprian's in Eastbourne.

Role range: 1903-1950

Awake Young Men of England

Publishes an early patriotic poem in a local newspaper.

Role range: 1903-1950

Eton College

Wins a scholarship place at Eton College.

Role range: 1903-1950

The Lesser Evil Poem

Orwell's poem The Lesser Evil appeared in The College Days while he was a student at Eton.

Eton Departure

Leaves Eton without going to university.

Role range: 1903-1950

Indian Imperial Police

Joins the Indian Imperial Police in Burma.

Role range: 1903-1950

Moulmein Posting

Serves as a colonial police officer in Moulmein.

Role range: 1903-1950

Burma Imperialism Reflections

Orwell's experience in colonial Burma provided material for later essays exposing the moral costs of imperial rule.

Police Resignation

Resigns from the Indian Imperial Police.

Role range: 1903-1950

Becoming a Writer

Returns to England determined to become a writer.

Role range: 1903-1950

Early Paris Writing Experiments

Orwell experimented with prose about deprivation and work that would later inform his first book.

Tramping

Studies poverty by tramping and staying in lodging houses.

Role range: 1903-1950

A Hanging

Publishes A Hanging, drawing on Burma police experience.

Role range: 1903-1950

Hop-Picking

Writes about hop-picking and casual labour in Kent.

Role range: 1903-1950

The Spike Essay

Orwell's essay The Spike described the degrading routines faced by destitute men in a casual ward.

Hawthorns School

Works as a teacher at The Hawthorns school.

Role range: 1903-1950

Down and Out in Paris and London

Publishes Down and Out in Paris and London.

Role range: 1903-1950

George Orwell Pseudonym

Publishes under the name George Orwell.

Role range: 1903-1950

Frays College

Teaches at Frays College after Down and Out is published.

Role range: 1903-1950

Booklovers' Corner

Works in a Hampstead bookshop.

Role range: 1903-1950

Clergyman's Daughter Draft

Works on A Clergyman's Daughter in Southwold.

Role range: 1903-1950

A Clergyman's Daughter

Publishes A Clergyman's Daughter.

Role range: 1903-1950

Burmese Days

Burmese Days is published in Britain after earlier American publication.

Role range: 1903-1950

Wigan Journey

Travels north to investigate working-class life and unemployment.

Role range: 1903-1950

The Road to Wigan Pier Research

Researches poverty and industrial conditions for his next book.

Role range: 1903-1950

Keep the Aspidistra Flying

Publishes Keep the Aspidistra Flying.

Role range: 1903-1950

Marriage

Marries Eileen O'Shaughnessy.

Role range: 1903-1950

Bookshop Memories Essay

Orwell's Bookshop Memories described his experience of bookselling and everyday reading habits.

Shooting an Elephant Essay

Orwell published Shooting an Elephant, reflecting on the pressures and injustice of colonial authority.

Spanish Civil War Volunteer

Orwell went to Spain to fight fascism, an experience that transformed his political writing.

Wallington Cottage

Lives at The Stores in Wallington.

Role range: 1903-1950

The Road to Wigan Pier

Publishes The Road to Wigan Pier.

Role range: 1903-1950

Escape from Spain

Orwell escaped Spain during political repression against the militia in which he had served.

Wounded in Spanish Conflict

Orwell was shot through the throat in Spain, later recording the experience in his war memoir.

Homage to Catalonia

Publishes Homage to Catalonia.

Role range: 1903-1950

Review of Mein Kampf

Orwell assessed the political appeal and danger of Hitler's ideology in his journalism.

Coming Up for Air

Publishes Coming Up for Air.

Role range: 1903-1950

Marrakech

Publishes the essay Marrakech.

Role range: 1903-1950