The Lion and the Unicorn: Socialism and the English Genius
Encyclopedia
"The Lion and the Unicorn: Socialism and the English Genius" is an essay by George Orwell
expressing his opinions on the situation in wartime Britain. The title alludes to the heraldic supporters appearing
in the full royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom
.
The essay was first published 19 February 1941 as the first volume of a series edited by T. R. Fyvel and Orwell, in the Searchlight Books
published by Secker & Warburg.
With the introductory sentence "As I write, highly civilized human beings are flying overhead, trying to kill me.", the content sheds some light on the process which eventually led Orwell to the writing of his famous dystopia, Nineteen Eighty-Four
. It expressed his opinion that the outdated British class system was hampering the war effort, and that in order to defeat Hitler, Britain needed a socialist revolution. Therefore, Orwell argued, being a socialist and being a patriot were no longer antithetical, they became very much complementary.
As a result, in Orwell's vision at the time, "The Lion and the Unicorn" would become the emblems of the revolution which would create a new kind of Socialism, a democratic "English Socialism" in contrast to the oppressing Soviet model - and also a new form of Britishness, a Socialist one liberated from Empire and the decadent old ruling classes. (Orwell specified that the revolutionary regime may keep on the royal family as a national symbol, though sweeping away all the rest of the British aristocracy).
The first part of the essay, "England Your England
", is often considered an essay in itself.
George Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair , better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist...
expressing his opinions on the situation in wartime Britain. The title alludes to the heraldic supporters appearing
The Lion and the Unicorn
The Lion and the Unicorn are symbols of the United Kingdom. They are, properly speaking, heraldic supporters appearing in the full Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom. The lion stands for England and the unicorn for Scotland...
in the full royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom
Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom
The Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom is the official coat of arms of the British monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II. These arms are used by the Queen in her official capacity as monarch of the United Kingdom, and are officially known as her Arms of Dominion...
.
The essay was first published 19 February 1941 as the first volume of a series edited by T. R. Fyvel and Orwell, in the Searchlight Books
Searchlight Books
Searchlight Books was a series of pamphlets and short books edited by T. R. Fyvel and George Orwell. The series was published by Secker & Warburg....
published by Secker & Warburg.
With the introductory sentence "As I write, highly civilized human beings are flying overhead, trying to kill me.", the content sheds some light on the process which eventually led Orwell to the writing of his famous dystopia, Nineteen Eighty-Four
Nineteen Eighty-Four
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell is a dystopian novel about Oceania, a society ruled by the oligarchical dictatorship of the Party...
. It expressed his opinion that the outdated British class system was hampering the war effort, and that in order to defeat Hitler, Britain needed a socialist revolution. Therefore, Orwell argued, being a socialist and being a patriot were no longer antithetical, they became very much complementary.
As a result, in Orwell's vision at the time, "The Lion and the Unicorn" would become the emblems of the revolution which would create a new kind of Socialism, a democratic "English Socialism" in contrast to the oppressing Soviet model - and also a new form of Britishness, a Socialist one liberated from Empire and the decadent old ruling classes. (Orwell specified that the revolutionary regime may keep on the royal family as a national symbol, though sweeping away all the rest of the British aristocracy).
The first part of the essay, "England Your England
England Your England
"England Your England" is an essay written by the British author George Orwell during The Blitz of 1941 as bombers of Nazi Germany flew overhead. It is his attempt to define British culture and the British people for the rest of the world as he fears that it might soon be wiped from earth by the...
", is often considered an essay in itself.
Excerpts
External links
- Text
- The Lion and the Unicorn: Socialism and the English Genius