Road to Wigan Pier - George Orwell

by Harbinger

This semester I have been studying the North - South divide in England, and to that end I have had to study George Orwell's book on the Industrial North. However I would happily read this book for pleasure. While it is a book making a political point, it is a true work of literature. It would have been so easy for him to have produced a book on how Socialism would be good for the working class of Britain, but lets face it there were no shortage of those in the mid-30's. So instead he produced, something approaching a travel log of his journeys in the North of England.

During the 1930's Britain was suffering from Mass Unemployment, levels of unemployment that make our present troubles seem insignificant. We were one of the few nations not to suffer too badly form the Wall Street Crash (1929). Why? Because we were already in trouble in the 20's so it made little difference to us. The Major problem was that the British Empire's power had always been based on coal, our main industries dealt with coal mining. Those were coal mining (obviously), steal and Ship building. When coal exports collapsed we were in dire trouble. People lost their jobs especially in the 'Industrial North' where these industries were focused, as Britain had not invested in other industries there were no other jobs for many of these people to do. It is these depressed areas that Orwell visits. He was very much a believer in the idea, that to understand something you have to experience it, so to that and he lived in the lodging houses that many ordinary people did and went down the mines.

Orwell understood, something which people are coming to realise, that mass produced goods created ignorance. The more easily available goods become the less people understand where they come from and what is required in producing it. For years the mining industry had been controlled by people who did not understand the work required. Many people in the 30's had no idea of the genuine difficulties involved. Orwell however tried to understand , to the extent that he put aside his obsession with cleanliness to visit these dirty, poor towns. So powerful was this view of the North, that people to this day view the North as filthy places filled with heavy industry, despite the changes that have occurred.

At the time the book was released 1937, it received a lot of criticism. The establishment thought that it was little more than communist rubbish, designed to undermine faith in the Government. However interestingly enough, the left-wingers hated it as well. As it was 'too pessimistic', portraying the working -classes as crushed rather than heroes fighting for the 'dictatorship of the Proletariat.' However in spite of the criticism (or because of it) it sold very well. I simply enjoyed it because it was well written an interesting study mingled with Orwell's brilliant intricate language.

It is a good read, rather Dickens-esque I suppose. We all know how great Orwell was, so I hope you discover that first hand for yourself.

TTFN