The social and material changes experienced by Bowling since childhood make his past seem as distant as the biblical character Og, King of Bashan, whom he remembers from Sundays at church. A news-poster about the contemporary King Zog of Albania, along with 'some sound in the traffic or the smell of horse dung or something' triggers the connection in Bowling's mind and his subsequent 'trip down memory lane'. Orwell's writing tends to show a real relish for pessimism and squalor; nevertheless, Bowling expresses a nostalgic melancholy of some tenderness. The novel presents an absorbingly realistic evocation of what is now called 'a mid-life crisis'.
What is most notable is not so much that Orwell predicted the start of World War II, which was becoming expected, but that he foresaw the transformation of society which would succeed it. Indeed, just a few years after the publication of this book, pre-war England was almost as different as George Bowling's Edwardian childhood.
The themes of the book are nostalgia, the folly of trying to go back and recapture past glories and the easy way the dreams and aspirations of one's youth can be smothered by the humdrum routine of work, marriage and getting old. George Bowling is not a very sympathetic character — he is a fat, middle-aged insurance salesman who dislikes his wife and children and who would betray what few principles he has for a couple of pints or a good night out with a prostitute.
However, like many Orwell protagonists, his saving virtues are perceptiveness and candour, especially regarding himself.
Orwell wrote the novel while spending six months in Morocco.
External links
- Coming up for Air - Searchable, indexed etext.
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Last updated on Thursday September 11, 2008 at 02:44:50 PDT (GMT -0700)
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Coming Up for Air is the debut album by British progressive rock band Breathing Space although many people regard Iain Jennings's solo album Breathing Space to be their first album.
Track Listing
- Coming up for Air (Sparnenn/Jennings)
- When I Hold on to You (Sparnenn/Rowen/Jennings)
- On the Blue Horizon (Sparnenn/Rowen)
- Time Tells all the Unknown (Sparnenn/Jennings)
- The Rain Song (Sparnenn)
- The Senses (Sparnenn/Jennings)
- Don't Turn a Blind Eye (Sparnenn/Rowen)
- Head Above the Water (Jennings)
- Searching for my Shadow (Sparnenn/Jennings)
- Turn of the Tide (Rowen/Jennings)
Credits (taken directly from the sleeve notes)
- Olivia Sparnenn - Lead/Backing Vocals
- Mark Rowen - Guitars
- Paul Teasdale - Bass Guitars; Backing Vocals
- Iain Jennings - Keyboards; Backing Vocals
- Ben Jennings - Keyboards
- Barry Cassells - Drums
With:
- Liam Davison - Slide Guitar (Track 7)
- John Hart - Saxophone (6 and 8); Flute (10)
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Last updated on Wednesday September 03, 2008 at 07:14:56 PDT (GMT -0700)
View this article at Wikipedia.org - Edit this article at Wikipedia.org - Donate to the Wikimedia Foundation
The social and material changes experienced by Bowling since childhood make his past seem as distant as the biblical character Og, King of Bashan, whom he remembers from Sundays at church. A news-poster about the contemporary King Zog of Albania, along with 'some sound in the traffic or the smell of horse dung or something' triggers the connection in Bowling's mind and his subsequent 'trip down memory lane'. Orwell's writing tends to show a real relish for pessimism and squalor; nevertheless, Bowling expresses a nostalgic melancholy of some tenderness. The novel presents an absorbingly realistic evocation of what is now called 'a mid-life crisis'.
What is most notable is not so much that Orwell predicted the start of World War II, which was becoming expected, but that he foresaw the transformation of society which would succeed it. Indeed, just a few years after the publication of this book, pre-war England was almost as different as George Bowling's Edwardian childhood.
The themes of the book are nostalgia, the folly of trying to go back and recapture past glories and the easy way the dreams and aspirations of one's youth can be smothered by the humdrum routine of work, marriage and getting old. George Bowling is not a very sympathetic character — he is a fat, middle-aged insurance salesman who dislikes his wife and children and who would betray what few principles he has for a couple of pints or a good night out with a prostitute.
However, like many Orwell protagonists, his saving virtues are perceptiveness and candour, especially regarding himself.
Orwell wrote the novel while spending six months in Morocco.
External links
- Coming up for Air - Searchable, indexed etext.
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Last updated on Thursday September 11, 2008 at 02:44:50 PDT (GMT -0700)
View this article at Wikipedia.org - Edit this article at Wikipedia.org - Donate to the Wikimedia Foundation
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