Alan Johnson and John Sutherland celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the publication of Nineteen Eighty-Four. They discuss: the impact George Orwell’s writing had on Alan’s politics; how John’s loss of his sense of smell lead him to re-evaluate Orwell; Alan’s pursuit of rock stardom; and John’s entertaining tongue in cheek guide to how great literary works have a shaping influence on the world.

Praise for In My Life:
‘It radiates the author’s easy going charm…touching vignettes’ Spectator

‘It conveys enthusiasm of a sort that made growing up in the post war decades such fun.’ Herald Scotland

Praise for Orwell’s Nose:
‘Racily readable’ David Lodge

‘Clever little book’ Sunday Times

Alan Johnson rose through the ranks of the Communication Workers Union, becoming General Secretary in 1992. MP for Hull West and Hessle from 1997–2017, he served in five Cabinet positions including Home Secretary. His other books are This Boy (Ondaatje and the Orwell prizes), Please Mr Postman (National Book Award for Autobiography) and The Long and Winding Road (Parliamentary Award for Best Memoir).
John Sutherland, Emeritus Lord Northcliffe Professor of Modern English Literature at UCL, is a reviewer and essayist for the Times. His over thirty books include The Longman Companion to Victorian Literature; the best selling titles Is Heathcliffe a Murderer? Can Jane Eyre be Happy? Who was Dracula’s Father? ; and A Little History of Literature.

This morning’s events are sponsored by Draycott Books Tel: 01386 841392 2 Sheep Street, Chipping Campden