George Orwell, originally born as Eric Arthur Blair, was an English novelist, poet, essayist, journalist, and critic. His work is marked by keen intelligence and wit, a profound awareness of social injustice, an intense, revolutionary opposition to all forms of totalitarianism (including both authoritarian communism and fascism), and a passion for clarity in language alongside a belief in democratic socialism.

Orwell is best known for his allegorical novella Animal Farm (1945) and the dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949). His non-fiction works, such as The Road to Wigan Pier (1937) and Homage to Catalonia (1938), are equally respected. These works document his experiences with the working-class life in England and his participation in the Spanish Civil War, respectively.

Orwell's influence extends deeply into popular and political culture, with terms like "Orwellian", "Big Brother", "Thought Police", and "Newspeak" entering the English language. In 2008, The Times ranked Orwell as the second-greatest British writer since 1945.