Glenn Burgess has written with great perception about how intensely Orwell valued free speech and how determined he was to defend it. This study makes us vividly aware of aspects of Orwell, particularly his activism, that have been hitherto comparatively neglected. It will be read with great interest by the many who wish to know more about and understand better a writer whose impact has continued to grow over the years.

Peter Stansky, Professor Emeritus of History, Stanford University, USA, and author of The Socialist Patriot: George Orwell and War

Glenn Burgess synthesizes a massive number of primary and secondary texts and constructs an original and clear argument around them on a vitally important area – namely Orwell's ideas about socialism, free speech, freedom of thought, press freedom and censorship. It amounts to an important and fascinating addition to Orwellian scholarship.

Richard Lance Keeble, Professor of Journalism, University of Lincoln, UK

Burgess's book is structured logically and straightforwardly... George Orwell's Perverse Humanity is detailed and often forensic in its methodology. It is, however, readable and fascinating.

Forum for Modern Language Studies