Welcome to The Orwell Foundation's Substack
‘What I have most wanted to do… is to make political writing into an art’
- George Orwell, Why I Write
George Orwell’s remarkable legacy stretches across fiction, non-fiction, and journalism. Here at The Orwell Foundation, we believe his work is uniquely relevant to our changing world - and the perfect introduction to the power of political writing.
What will you find here?
The Orwell Foundation’s newsletter showcases the best political writing, past and present. It’s a chance to hear directly from the journalists and writers shortlisted for The Orwell Prizes, the UK’s most prestigious prizes for political writing (including fiction, non-fiction and journalism).
Throughout the prize year, we’ll share new writing, exclusive interviews with finalists and judges - and even some book excerpts, as well as new writing from the Orwell Youth Fellows, previous winners of The Orwell Youth Prize.
And we’ll also bring you the best new writing on George Orwell’s life and work, and reviews of the latest Orwell-related books.
As an independent charity, our Substack is entirely free - all you need to do is subscribe. If you are enjoying the newsletter, please consider a donation to support our work. You can also contact us directly at info@orwellfoundation.com.
About The Orwell Foundation
Based in the UK, The Orwell Foundation is an independent charity which exists to continue the legacy of the British author and journalist George Orwell (1903 – 1950).
Each year our panels of independent judges select the best contemporary writing and reporting across our four categories: Political Writing, Political Fiction, Journalism and Exposing Britain’s Social Evils, in the spirit of Orwell’s remarkable legacy.
But The Orwell Prizes are just the start. Through our live events and online resources, The Orwell Foundation shines a light on brave writing which uncovers hidden lives and confronts uncomfortable truths. And through The Orwell Youth Prize, we aim to support young people across the UK to think and write creatively and critically.