Another is that the earnings of his then-wife Eileen O’Shaughnessy, who had started working - rather ironically - at the Censorship Department of London’s Ministry of War at the onset of WWII, would have been considered his for tax purposes.

One possible explanation is that because writers, artists, and others in the creative professions have a greater variability of income year over year, Orwell’s tax challenge may be due to higher earnings in a previous year, such as potential royalties for The Road to Wigan Pier, published in 1937. George OrwellĪs a footnote in the book points out, it’s odd that Orwell was being pursued for taxes so shortly after his state of near-poverty in the 1930s, and at a time when only 20% of the population paid taxes. Yet I would give my life for England readily enough, if I thought it necessary. The fact which is really relevant to a writer’s position, the impossibility of writing books with this nightmare going on, would have no weight officially… Towards the government I feel no scruples and would dodge paying the tax if I could. The money situation is becoming completely unbearable… Wrote a long letter to the Income Tax people pointing out that the war had practically put an end to my livelihood while at the same time the government refused to give me any kind of job.

On Augas World War II is reaching its menacing crescendo - 37-year-old Orwell writes in his diary: When that’s missing, no amount of idealism can neutralize the anguishing practical reality.įrom George Orwell: Diaries ( public library) - which also gave us 33-year-old Orwell on gender equality in work and housework and his frugal dessert recipes - comes a short entry bemoaning the author’s money troubles. And yet no matter how much we read up on how to worry less about money, there is a baseline financial security necessary for writing, living, and remaining sane, whatever one’s occupation.

If your motive is money,” Michael Lewis advised aspiring writers, “find another one.” More than a century earlier, Tolstoy had issued a similar admonition about money and motives. “It’s always good to have a motive to get you in the chair.

George orwell patriotism