Happy Birthday, George

Today in 1903, George Orwell was born in Motihari, Bihar, in Bengal under the British Raj. As Wikipedia puts it: . His work is marked by keen intelligence and wit, a profound awareness of social injustice, an intense opposition to totalitarianism, a passion for clarity in language, and a belief in democratic socialism. Two of his books - 1984 and Animal Farm - have sold more than any two books by any other 20th century author. He was also a prolific journalist.

And over at The Orwell Prize you can read his diary - it's 1942 there.