George Orwell has left a lasting impression on the lives of his audience despite only living for forty-six years. Known for his politically critical novels, Orwell’s material is proven relevant, even today, to explain situations pertaining to society or to government. However, the question of how Orwell understood totalitarianism to the extent that he did remains. On June 25, 1903, this Anglo-French writer, originally named Eric Arthur Blair, was born in Motihari, India, to Richard Blair and Ida Limouzin. At a young age, Orwell was sent to a convent run by French nuns, where his hatred of Catholicism was established. At age 8, Orwell enrolled in St. Cyprian 's, a preparatory school for boys, in Eastbourne, Sussex, which he attended until he was 17. Though he experienced unfavorable conditions, Orwell did have many pivotal moments at the academy. For example, his English teacher aided Orwell in developing his writing style to make his work simpler and clearer. Orwell also was taught by dystopian novelist, Aldous Huxley, from whom Orwell could have adopted his dystopian writing style. After graduating in 1921, Orwell discovered his natural calling for writing. In 1932, Orwell hired his first publisher, Victor Gollancz, who issued him his pen name, George Orwell. As years passed, Orwell found himself drawn to the conflict of the Spanish Civil War. Unfortunately, an injury in the neck and the persecution of Republicans in Spain caused Orwell and his wife, Eileen, to flee the