Books

"The Road to Wigan Pier" by George Orwell. Victor Gollancz, London. 1937 first UK edition first printing. Original blue cloth lettered on spine in yellow, some foxing to fore-edges as usual, slightly faded and rubbed at head and tail of spine, original yellow dust-jacket, worn with loss to head of spine, rubbed and slightly frayed at extremities, 8vo. The Road to Wigan Pier is a book by the English writer George Orwell, first published in 1937. The first half of this work documents his sociological investigations of the bleak living conditions among the working class in Lancashire and Yorkshire in the industrial north of England before World War II. The second half is a long essay on his middle-class upbringing, and the development of his political conscience, questioning British attitudes towards socialism. Orwell states plainly that he himself is in favour of socialism, but feels it necessary to point out reasons why many people who would benefit from socialism, and should logically support it, are in practice likely to be strong opponents. According to Orwell biographer Bernard Crick, publisher Victor Gollancz first tried to persuade Orwell's agent to allow the Left Book Club edition to consist solely of the descriptive first half of the book. When this was refused Gollancz wrote an introduction to the book. "Victor could not bear to reject it, even though his suggestion that the 'repugnant' second half should be omitted from the Club edition was turned down. On this occasion Victor, albeit nervously, did overrule Communist Party objections in favour of his publishing instinct. His compromise was to publish the book with [an introduction] full of good criticism, unfair criticism, and half-truths. The first trade UK edition was published in only a small printing of 2150 copies, of which very few with dust jacket are still left. An opportunity to own one of the rarest works by Orwell in original dust jacket.

The Road to Wigan Pier is a book by British writer George Orwell, first published in 1937. The first half of this work documents his sociological observations of the life of the working class in the industrial towns of the north of England. The second half is a long essay on his middle-class upbringing, and the development of his political conscience, questioning British attitudes towards socialism.