Selected Essays (Collins Classics)

HarperCollins is proud to present its range of best-loved, essential classics.

‘When I was about sixteen I suddenly discovered the joy of mere words’


Best known for his remarkable novels Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell’s essay writings throughout the 1930s and 40s are just as compelling. From ‘Why I Write’ to ‘Shooting an Elephant’ and ‘A Hanging’, his observations offer contemporary readers a snapshot of Britain during some of its most turbulent decades.


This collection, ranging from Orwell’s experiences as a police officer in South-East Asia to opinion pieces on British political unrest and the horrors of war, is a selection of his most acclaimed essays, which continue to be revered today for their originality and insight.

Format: Paperback
Pages: 240
Imprint: Harper Press UK
Publication date: 16/03/2023
Series: Collins Classics