Britain's own "Big Brother" eyed Orwell

[sasquatch]

Source: Associated Press

LONDON - George Orwell's left-wing views and bohemian clothes led British police to label him a communist — but the MI5 spy agency stepped in to correct that view, the writer's newly released security file reveals.

The secret file that MI5 kept on the author from 1929 until his death in 1950 is being declassified Tuesday by the National Archives.

It reveals that in contrast to the fictional "Big Brother," the cruel and all-seeing secret police of Orwell's classic "1984," MI5 took a surprisingly benign view of the writer.

Orwell savaged the totalitarianism of Stalin's Russia in "Animal Farm" and "1984." But he was also a socialist who railed against inequality in earlier works such as "Down and Out in Paris and London" and "The Road to Wigan Pier."

The documents show Orwell — whose real name was Eric Arthur Blair — attracted the attention of police in 1936 for alleged "communist activities in Wigan." Then 33, he had gone to the mining town to research a book about working-class life in northern England.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070903/ap_on_re_eu/britain_orwell_files;_ylt=Ape5ITB3U0Ew3VToYkO_52Cs0NUE

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I wonder how many other great artist, authors and others are currently under the watch of "Big Brother" right because they view dissent being equal to that of disloyalty to their country.

[papau]

1. The radio discussion today was interesting - he saw unrestrained capitalism as "big brother" once it

got hold of the technology it needed (like the TV conference call, bugging, camera feeds everywhere, massive databases, etc.)

He also turned in his "enemies list" (folks that liked Stalin) to MI5 - which may explain why they did not get up tight about him.

[Malidictus Maximus]

2. Check out "Homage to Catalonia"

Perhaps some of the greatest war, and political writing of the era, an incredible book. He was able to see both true face of Nazism and witness Stalin sell the Spanish socialists out, leaving him with no illusions about totalitarianism OR capitalism.

[catalonia]

3. Catalonia

Quite true
http://www.lifeincatalonia.com