Orwell: An Honest Word in the Times of Ideological Conflicts

Abstract

In Russia, Orwell is often regarded as a harsh critic of the totalitarian regime and the author of two famous novels “1984” and “Animal Farm”. However, the legacy of Orwell cannot be reduced to these important literary works. Orwell was an advocate of socialism, came out as an opponent of the British colonial policies, fought against fascism in Spain and was seriously wounded there. His anti-totalitarian stance was not tied to any particular geographical location. He viewed totalitarian practices as the development of inequality and the evolution of domination inherent in capitalist society. Orwell sought to preserve the right to have an independent voice and to support the cause of justice.