Dwight Garner: Meet George Orwell

Dwight Garner on Katie Roiphe:

Ms. Roiphe’s are how you want your essays to sound: lean and literate, not unlike Orwell’s, with a frightening ratio of velocity to torque.

George Orwell on “Politics and the English Language“:

…banal statements are given an appearance of profundity by means of the not un- formation.

7 Comments

  1. NewHavenGuy November 30, 2012 at 12:52 am | #

    Damn, y’all are mean to professional writers who can’t write worth a damn! Still, we all must admit that Roiphe’s prose does have a stunning ratio of sunblock factor to ICBM throw-weight.

    • Mich November 30, 2012 at 11:40 am | #

      That was too easy Corey!
      🙂

      • Corey Robin November 30, 2012 at 11:58 am | #

        Hey, we’re approaching Shabbat. You know, the day of rest. Easy is good.

  2. escott November 30, 2012 at 2:23 pm | #

    yes and the not un-vague meaning sounds not un-literary, especially not un-attributed to Orwell’s not misunderstood writing style,

  3. escott November 30, 2012 at 2:31 pm | #

    really getting myself confused now meant to say not un-misunderstood….

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