That wasn't my impression of it but I haven't Read it since I was a teenager. My take away was that Orwell thought the main obstacle to widespread adoption of socialism was socialists failing to make a case that appeals to the very people who would benefit most from it.
I don't recall thinking it was overly idealistic but I was seventeen. If anything I thought he was frequently too harsh on socialists, patronising in places about the intelligence of the Working Class and unable to tell the difference between academic Marxism and Marxism as a concept.
Read the review I posted written in 1937 by an actual communist who lived in Lancashire, and you will see how condescending and idealist Orwell’s middle class socialism is.
I mean in 1984 he literally treats the proletariat as mindless hogs that are satisfied with starvation as long as they have bingo and sex, meanwhile the only really awake people are the middle class, which is obviously why they are the ones most controlled because they are the true threat and force of socialism.
Idealism as in the philosophical opposite of materialism.
And yes it was extremely condescending of the working class, talking constantly of their smell and their sluminess. He is the effete middle class snob he sought to attack. Orwell is shit tier and anyone who seriously recommends him makes me instantly disregard their opinion.
The Road to Wigan Pier? You mean the idealist nonsense where his solution to everything is appeals to justice and truth?
https://scottish-communists.org.uk/communist-party/britain-s-socialist-heritage/110-harry-pollitt-s-review-of-orwell-s-the-road-to-wigan-pier
That wasn't my impression of it but I haven't Read it since I was a teenager. My take away was that Orwell thought the main obstacle to widespread adoption of socialism was socialists failing to make a case that appeals to the very people who would benefit most from it.
I don't recall thinking it was overly idealistic but I was seventeen. If anything I thought he was frequently too harsh on socialists, patronising in places about the intelligence of the Working Class and unable to tell the difference between academic Marxism and Marxism as a concept.
I'll give it another read perhaps.
Read the review I posted written in 1937 by an actual communist who lived in Lancashire, and you will see how condescending and idealist Orwell’s middle class socialism is.
I mean in 1984 he literally treats the proletariat as mindless hogs that are satisfied with starvation as long as they have bingo and sex, meanwhile the only really awake people are the middle class, which is obviously why they are the ones most controlled because they are the true threat and force of socialism.
Idealism as in the philosophical opposite of materialism.
And yes it was extremely condescending of the working class, talking constantly of their smell and their sluminess. He is the effete middle class snob he sought to attack. Orwell is shit tier and anyone who seriously recommends him makes me instantly disregard their opinion.