Orwell the poet is an unremarkable figure. But, whatever one might think of his verse as literature, from a biographical viewpoint it carries rather more weight and meaning. Certainly, like his other writings, it reflects movements of his mind over time, and is perhaps better read in that light. However, poems such as 'An Italian soldier shook my hand' and 'a happy vicar I might have been' are clear exceptions, and some such as his amusing jingle about the Burmese woman out-haggling her would be customer are highly entertaining. In addition, the book benefits from a running commentary by the editor and an essay by Peter Davison
