FAQ About George Orwell

George Orwell adopted his pen name for several reasons. His birth name, Eric Arthur Blair, did not sound distinct or memorable, and he wished to separate his personal life from his writing career. Additionally, as he was publishing his first book "Down and Out in Paris and London," a semi-autobiographical account of his experiences with poverty, he was concerned about the potential embarrassment it might cause to his family. The name 'George Orwell' was chosen as it was a traditional English name, and 'Orwell' is also the name of a river in Suffolk, England, which held sentimental value to him.