Back in the ‘Land of the Living’

In case any visitors to Beyond 1984 might have been wondering about the recent lack of activity, I haven’t been feeling well for almost a month. Nothing serious—just a viral attack, but it affected me badly in so far as I couldn’t bring myself to pick up a pen or a pencil, let alone work at a computer. I lost my strength and vitality, and worst of all—motivation, and have written hardly a word since the virus struck. I did try to work, but when I made the effort to write, I found myself staring aimlessly at the computer screen or contemplating a blank sheet of paper. So I gave up in the end and just let the virus run its course.

I’m almost back to normal now. I’m back on my keep-fit routine, and my motivation is increasing. I’m gradually readjusting to my usual routine, and feel relieved that it was just a minor illness. The virus disappeared as quickly as it came—almost overnight, and good riddance to it. I hadn’t previously been ill for years, not even a cold, and the bug has given me a reminder of how intensely debilitating even a minor illness can be.

The upside was that I did manage to read quite a lot, mostly re-reading George Orwell novels. However, I worked my way through two other Orwell related books that I received as presents last Christmas. They are: Orwell – A Life In Letters, and Orwell Diaries, both compiled and edited by Peter Davison. (Please click on the links below)
[openbook booknumber=”9781846553295″ templatenumber=”2″] [openbook booknumber=”9781846553554″ templatenumber=”2″]

I’ll soon be posting a review of both on this site’s Literateur Lite page, so there’s no need for me to go into any more detail here. Except to say that for anyone who is interested in the life of that literary genius, these two books are an absolute must-read. I began to feel rather ashamed as I read the latter sections of each, covering the period when Orwell wrote Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four. He was, at that time, in the latter stages of the tuberculosis that would ultimately kill him, and the letters in particular are distressing to read. Reading them while I was out of action due to a mild viral attack did make me think, and began to put my own circumstances into perspective.

The Orwell legacy that is left to us is not just the massive body of brilliant work, but also the example that he set to all writers. That is, as much as it is possible, to write every day irrespective of whatever the hardships may be. Orwell wrote much of Nineteen Eighty-Four when he was so ill he was unable to get out of bed. I feel a bit of a fraud now. A virus—really—disappointingly pathetic in comparison!

IR 03/04/2011