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ALS signed “George,” three pages on two sheets, 6.75 x 8, Barnhill, Isle of Jura, Argyllshire letterhead, November 29, 1947. Handwritten letter to novelist Anthony Powell, sent during the composition of Nineteen Eighty-Four, in which Orwell discusses his declining health, limited productivity, and progress on the novel, in part: “Of course I’ve done no work for weeks – have only done the rough draft of my novel, which I always consider as the half-way mark. I was supposed to finish it by May – now, God knows when,” and reflecting that “in these days besides putting the date of publication in books one also ought to put the date of writing.” Referencing earlier work, he adds: “In the spring I'm reprinting a novel which came out in 1939 & was rather killed by the war, so that makes up a little for being late with my new one.” Beyond literary matters, Orwell turns to practical concerns, noting the difficulty of rural life and requesting assistance in obtaining a saddle, as “it's so tiring riding bareback,” and closes with a family update, writing that Richard is “offensively well & full of violence.” In fine condition.
The novel he describes as having been “rather killed by the war” is Coming Up for Air, published on June 12, 1939, which in fact sold well and was quickly reprinted. The second edition referenced here appeared on May 13, 1948, as the first volume in the Universal Edition of Orwell’s works; Orwell received proofs on October 7 and returned them on October 22, 1947. Powell, the recipient, published John Aubrey and His Friends in 1948 and Brief Lives and Other Selected Writings of John Aubrey in 1949. This letter is included in the selected edition George Orwell: A Life in Letters.
Written at Barnhill during his final and most demanding creative period, the letter captures Orwell at work on Nineteen Eighty-Four, offering a candid account of its slow progress under deteriorating health and isolation. The work would ultimately be published by Secker & Warburg on June 8, 1949, quickly becoming a bestseller in England and abroad, and has since established itself as one of the defining literary works of the twentieth century.
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