The Times Authors, No. 2: George Orwell

London: Times Newspapers, Circa 1970s. First Edition.

The Times Authors series presented gatherings of resources relating to an author, including newspaper reviews, offprints of articles, film stills, and various ephemera, created for use by students and available for purchase via mail order from the "Times Education Services" office in London. This edition, noted as No. 2, focused on George Orwell. Other authors featured included Dylan Thomas, Arnold Wesker, and Allan Sillitoe.

As noted on the folder on offer, each issue in the series was "carefully selected and arranged, but organised in a loose-leaf format with no imposed sequence. For individual study or group work this flexibility will be found especially helpful, for there are numerous points of entry, and the direction and centre of interest can depend on the book or books being studied."

Among the resources in the edition are:

Eight gatherings of reproductions of newspaper articles and reviews relating to Orwell, with a number of newspapers represented, including "The Observer," "Scrutiny," "The Daily Mirror," "The Times Literary Supplement," "Tribune," and "The Guardian."

A reproduction of four articles written by Orwell, originally published in "As I Please," his weekly column for the left-wing British newspaper "Tribune."

A comic strip based on the 1954 animated film directed by John Halas and Joy Batchelor, and created by the film's lead animator, Harold Whitaker.

A poster advertising Halas and Batchelor's film, with a striking, black-and-white drawing of charismatic swine leader Napoleon.

A double-sided character and set design illustration and a booklet featuring ten black-and-white photographs from the 1954 film.

An offprint of two of the five essays from Orwell's 1947 book "The English People," and reproducing the book's covers and title page.

A bifold bibliography of Orwell's publications, and critical works relating to Orwell.

"The English People": Fine in staple-bound wrappers.

Harold Whitaker strip: Small scratch on the front wrapper, else Near Fine in side-stapled wrappers.

Poster: 19.5 x 14.5 inches, folded. About Fine.

Newspaper reproductions, bifold bibliography, design illustration, and stills booklet: Very Good plus to Near Fine, with some faint offsetting along the top edges.

All materials housed in a pictorial green folder, measuring 12 x 9 inches.

Folder and contents housed in publisher's original plastic envelope, Near Fine.

[Book #159701]