ESSAYS

This wonderful collection of essays is greatly enhanced by Alex Hyde-White's attentive narration. Orwell's essays span many topics--from his observations on Charles Dickens to his experiences in colonial Burma. His prose is varied in purpose, whether it is to relate a story, as in "Shooting an Elephant," or to explain his writing philosophy, as in "Why I Write." Throughout this collection, Hyde-White's narration maintains consistency as he captures the author's tone and intonation. When Orwell includes dialogue, Hyde-White smoothly shifts into character, as he does in "A Hanging" when he voices a Eurasian youth with a slight local accent. Throughout his reading, Hyde-White expertly guides the listener through Orwell's fascinating ideas. D.M.W. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2020]