George Orwell (d. i. Eric Arthur Blair), English writer, 1903-1950

Eric Arthur Blair, better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English novelist and essayist, journalist and critic. His work is characterised by social criticism, opposition to totalitarianism, and support of democratic socialism. Orwell is best known for his allegorical novella "Animal Farm" (1945) and the dystopian novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four" (1949). His non-fiction works include "The Road to Wigan Pier" (1937), documenting his experience of working-class life, and "Homage to Catalonia" (1938), an account of his experiences soldiering for the Republican faction of the Spanish Civil War. In 2008 "The Times" ranked George Orwell second among "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945".