Grand National - Bet or Boycott?

[London Headshots]

Incidentally, I believe one of things that inspired Orwell to write one of his other books (Animal Farm) was the sight of a man controlling a horse. He wondered why a strong beast obeyed the command of such a weak master - if only the horse realised its potential, it could do as it pleased.

From Cliffs Notes on Animal Farm: "...His thoughts were ignited when he happened to see a village boy whipping a cart-horse. At that moment, Orwell received the insiration he needed to formulate his ideas into Animal Farm: 'It struck me that if only such animals became aware of their own strength we would have no power over them, and that men exploit animals as the government in a totalitarian state exploits the common people..."

Anyway, I digress...

This is true, I believe he also wrote a small essay on the horse/horse-master relationship, though I could be mistaken. It's crazy to think how effortlessly Animal Farm completely dismantles the communist system, and that had he not have seen that simple scene, the book may never have existed.

If you're an Orwell fan, there exists a paperback volume of all his political essays and polemics, and it's bloody brilliant. Well worth a purchase, if you haven't already.