The Road to Wigan Pier

First published in 1937, “The Road to Wigan Pier” is a long essay by English writer George Orwell within which he describes his experiences of working class life in Lancashire and the English industrial north prior to the Second World War. This insightful sociological investigation looks at the terrible living conditions experienced by those in question and analyses contemporary attitudes towards socialism, specifically why those who would have most to gain from it are often its biggest opponents. Eric Arthur Blair (1903–1950), more commonly known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English journalist, essayist, critic, and novelist most famous for his novel “Nineteen Eighty-Four” (1949) and allegorical novella “Animal Farm” (1945). His work is characterised by an opposition to totalitarianism and biting social commentary, and remains influential in popular culture today. Many of his neologisms have forever entered the English language, including “Thought Police”, “Big Brother”, “Room 101”, “doublethink”, “thoughtcrime”, and “Newspeak” to name but a few. Other notable works by this author include: “Keep the Aspidistra Flying” (1936) and “Coming Up for Air” (1939). Read & Co. Great Essays is proudly republishing this classic essay now in a brand new edition complete with the introductory essay “Why I Write”.