**Behind George Orwell**
*Anna Funder*
Translated by Seo Jae-in
Think Power
George Orwell’s novel *1984* is counted among the classics of dystopian and political writing. However, before him, there was a female writer who penned a dystopian poem titled “Fin de Siècle, 1984.” This woman advised Orwell, who was then attempting to write an essay criticizing dictator Stalin, to write an allegory with animals, leading to the creation of *Animal Farm*, which she planned and edited. An alumnus of Oxford University with a degree in English Literature, she participated in the Spanish Civil War and even rescued Orwell and his colleagues. Yet, her name is not well-known, often merely referred to as ‘Orwell’s wife.’
*Behind George Orwell* is a book that reconstructs the life of Orwell’s first wife, Eileen O’Shaughnessy Blair. Non-fiction writer Anna Funder uncovered from Orwell’s final writings that he expressed irrational anger and contempt towards his wife. In her research, Funder discovered six letters from Eileen found in 2005, and various records, through which she argues that Eileen was a pivotal figure in the making of ‘great author George Orwell.’
Eileen took on the roles of Orwell’s typist, editor, and housekeeper, as many wives of literary giants did, sacrificing the time to write her own works. Despite this, Orwell didn’t respect Eileen as a wife or colleague. When Eileen was mourning the loss of her brother, Orwell sent a letter to another woman for a secret meeting, justifying his actions by quoting Eileen saying, “even she said I could give myself a birthday present.” Orwell, just three months prior to his death, instructed his second wife to never write any biography about him.
This book does not seek to erase Orwell from literary history. Funder states, “Orwell’s works are valuable to me. I didn’t want to bring him or his works down in any way.” Instead, the book aims to shed light on Eileen’s literary contributions that Orwell concealed, and to highlight Orwell’s human limitations, thus offering a multi-layered understanding of his works. In this exploration, the author naturally integrates her reflections as a wife and mother balancing home life and writing.
Sophia Tolstoy, Zelda Fitzgerald, Catherine Dickens—the wives of illustrious authors Leo Tolstoy, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Charles Dickens—contributed to the creation of literary masterpieces, yet were not recognized as peers. Eileen is one of them.
In a recommendation, novelist Kang Hwagil expressed gratitude for Eileen’s dedication, saying, “She worked, managed the home, and inspired George Orwell while he was creating his masterpieces.”
**Behind George Orwell’s Erased Wife, Eileen**
Anna Funder, Translation by Seo Jae-in, Think Power, 2025 / Photo © KYOBO BOOK CENTRE