First edition, first impression. 128, [2]pp. Oatmeal cloth-covered boards with green lettering on the spine. 12mo. Cloth is lightly soiled, gently rounded at corner and spine ends. Slight forward lean. Text block edges toned. Hint of toning internally, most markedly in endpaper hinges. In its original, price clipped dust jacket, toned and a little brittle, rubbed and bumped all round edges, sunned over spine, with a few mild marks. Dust jacket now protected in an archival quality Mylar wrapper fitted without the use of tape or adhesives.
Orwell's war time extended essay on England and England's special problems in an age when, in his analysis, private capitalism was dissolving into a classless, ownerless society. He argues of the impossibility of winning the the war against Germany without far-reaching social reconstruction and, counter to much contemporary thinking, that any attempt towards socialism was doomed unless it took account of English history and character.
