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I have fond memories of reading his essays, notably Shooting an Elephant [1]. They left a vivid impression on me when I was younger.

[1] https://www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-foundation/orwel...

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Thanks! Also read this story decades ago as a young man and it left a strong impression. More then once brought it up as a metaphor in a conversation. For some reason my memory attributed it to Kipling and a few times tried to find it and never could, now I know why, it was Orwell!

Stuck in my mind are that one and his account of trench warfare in the Spanish civil war (Homage to Catalonia).

The account of hand to hand trench warfare is horrifying.

Down and Out in Paris and London is good too - that he lives the life he described is just bizarre. A driven man.

> A driven man.

I've had beers with the homeless and with billionaires, and I've slept rough and lived in five stars.

But compared to Blair, I've only ever been a tourist; whether posh or tramp, he committed.

At least he didn't go as far as cup-less Diogenes, in his tub.

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