George Orwell died 70 odd years ago. Yet his works and political analysis, has been used and abused. Co-opted and contorted out of shape and meaning. Those of the left and right use the term ”Orwellian”, often to impose a view point and miss its more salient revelation, that all politics is about constructing a narrative to suit an ideology, often and the harm of the many for the benefit of the few. With this release of a graphic novel biography, I was again concerned that the author would try to stamp his ideology with that of Orwell.

I was pleasantly surprised. Pierre Christin and Sebastien Verdier (alongside specific and often exceptional single contributions from famed artists) capture an essence of the life of a man that still defines liberalism and anti extremism. Instead of a validation of any agenda, we have a skillful navigation of Orwell’s life, works, loves and losses. Its interspersed with his works, both lesser and obvious. But it is a journey of which the man, his motivations and his intelligence in capturing the maleficence inherent in political world. ORWELL starts in his childhood. Fractured by being from a middle class family, being sent to board and then on to Eton. These badges usually lead people to elected office but not Orwell (then called Eric Blair). They led him to colonial office and the trap of empire. Then on to Paris, the doss house and the plight of the poor.

All before marriage and journalism. The civil war in Spain. The shoulder to shoulder stance of the war, demolished by political infighting and divide and rule. All captured in two chapters prior to the invention of Orwell. These are the best parts of the work by far. Visually rich, tonal and sharply observed. The interspersed pieces add to this but sometimes actually supersede it. This is obviously intentional. Works by Andre Juillard, Oliver Balez, Manu Larcenet, Janjo Guarnido (whose ANIMAL FARM image is a think I want framed!). The final parts lead us to his slow and steady decline of Orwell and of the narrative. It might not have the vim and vigour of the first two chapters but it is where his identity is fixed and his opinions are squared. The closing chapter however will spilt the room. Prior to this, the work and the extraordinary additional work, seeped in the despair of his work. But in the end it is the summation of the piece.  The ready abuse of his ideas today by all on the political spectrum. Those trying to prove they have the answer and they can bring utopia. ORWELL is a work that restores the hope that art can stand up to the times and the tides. So not to become consumed by ideological emptiness. It defies the readers expectations by forcing us to ask the question ‘What would Orwell say today?’ Indeed, that is my take home.