Orwell Then & Now – A Conversation Across Time

Join us for a powerful evening of discussion as we read 1984 by George Orwell alongside Finding George Orwell in Burma by Emma Larkin. These two books: one a dystopian classic, the other a haunting exploration of Orwell’s real-life experiences, become even more compelling when read together.

By pairing Orwell’s prophetic fiction with Larkin’s deeply human investigation of the man behind the myth, we’ll explore themes of surveillance, censorship, truth, and resistance, not in a far-off future, but in the world we inhabit now.

Why these books? Why now?
Because phrases like “alternative facts” and state-level censorship of books are no longer fiction. Because understanding how authoritarianism creeps into language, bureaucracy, and daily life is not just an academic exercise, it’s a civic responsibility. Because Orwell warned us, and Larkin shows us that the roots of that warning were real and lived.

Let’s examine how the past speaks to the present—and how literature can illuminate the path forward.
Suggested Reading, now available for purchase at Abi's:
✔️ 1984 by George Orwell
✔️ Finding George Orwell in Burma by Emma Larkin

Bring your thoughts, your questions, and your voice. Let’s read, reflect, and resist—together.