Why I Write

Why I Write by George Orwell is a brilliant collection of essays that explores the author’s lifelong relationship with language, politics, and the craft of writing. First published in 1946—after Animal Farm and before Nineteen Eighty-Four—this insightful work provides a rare glimpse into Orwell’s mind as both a writer and a political thinker.

In the title essay, Orwell reflects on his early life, his development as a writer, and the driving forces behind his literary career. From his lonely childhood filled with imagined stories to his early attempts at poetry and fiction, Orwell traces how personal experience shaped his desire to write. He identifies four primary motives that inspire every writer: egoism, aesthetic enthusiasm, historical impulse, and political purpose. These themes reveal his belief that all writing is, in some way, political—whether consciously or not.

Orwell’s honesty and clarity make Why I Write more than a memoir; it is a manifesto for truth in expression and integrity in art. He explains how the Spanish Civil War profoundly changed his worldview, transforming him into a writer devoted to fighting totalitarianism and promoting democratic socialism. This turning point influenced every major work he wrote afterward, including his timeless classics Animal Farm and 1984.

Through its sharp observations and thoughtful self-examination, Why I Write offers readers a deeper understanding of the moral and intellectual convictions behind Orwell’s writing. It stands as an essential read for anyone interested in literature, journalism, and the power of words to shape society.