Sale of Orwell Archives Sparks Outrage: Concerns Over Preservation and Public Access

By Sophie Aires

An archive of correspondence and contracts collated by George Orwell’s original publisher, Victor Gollancz, is being put up for sale due to a decision made in 2018 by the parent company because the warehouse was closing. George Orwell’s archives offer invaluable insights into one of the most significant British writers of the 20th century. They reveal how he crafted his most memorable works, his reactions to criticism and his concerns that legal threats could jeopardise his writing.

The decision has raised significant anger and controversy because many believe that such literary and historical materials should remain in public ownership. Critics are concerned that private buyers might restrict access to these important documents, which include Orwell’s personal letters, manuscripts and notebooks. As George Orwell’s son Richard Blair has stated, “It’s terribly sad… Once Gollancz material is acquired by private collectors, it could disappear into the ether for ever.”

Leading antiquarian bookseller Peter Harrington is offering Gollancz papers relating to A Clergyman’s Daughter, Orwell’s second novel. This collection features Orwell's original contract, a letter with his annotated corrections and a 1934 report by Gerald Gould, who was Fiction Editor at The Observer and a manuscript reviewer for Gollancz, recommending the book for publication.

Harrington is also selling letters relating to Keep the Aspidistra Flying (Orwell’s third novel) for £50,000, which show that libel concerns led to key alterations in the final text. In 1936, frustrated by the changes requested by Gollancz, Orwell expressed that he nevertheless would do what he could to meet his publisher’s demands – "short of ruining the book altogether."

On top of this, Harrington’s rival establishment Jonkers is advertising the 1937 Road to Wigan Pier papers for £35,000 and the file on Animal Farm has already sold for £100,000. 

In summary, the sale of these treasured archives has raised concerns about the future of literary heritage. With leading antiquarian booksellers like Harrington and Jonkers capitalising on these documents, fears surrounding the loss of precious and historic papers are growing.