[1.] Prologue in Burma: Shooting an elephant -- A hanging -- From Burmese days -- [2.] The thirties: From Down and out in Paris and London -- How the poor die -- From A clergyman's daughter -- From Keep the aspidistra flying -- From The road to Wigan Pier -- From Homage to Catalonia -- From Coming up for air -- [3.] World War II and after: From The lion and the unicorn : socialism and the English genius -- England your England -- Rudyard Kipling -- Politics vs. literature : an examination of "Gulliver's travels"--Lear, Tolstoy and the Fool -- In defense of P.G. Wodehouse -- Reflections on Gandhi -- Second thoughts on James Burnham -- Politics and the English language -- The prevention of literature -- "I write as I please": Decline of the English murder ; Some thoughts on the common toad ; A good word for the vicar of Bray -- Why I write -- From Nineteen eighty-four -- "Such, such were the joys ..."