Review by Ian Keogh

Journalist Andrea Chalupa considers Eileen Blair to be a woman whose place in literary history has been considerably diminished and under-appreciated, and over a thorough fictionalised biography states a very convincing case.

Before marriage Eileen O’ Shaughnessy was already a woman of considerable accomplishments. In 1927 she graduated from Oxford University, where she studied under J. R. R. Tolkein, not yet author of The Lord of the Rings. She subsequently ran a typing office, had a spell as a journalist, was a published poet and was taking a postgraduate course in educational psychology when introduced to Eric Blair. Under the pen name George Orwell he was also published, but not to the point where he could stop working in a bookshop.

He rapidly asked her to marry him, but she refused before acquiescing and was beside him as he wrote Keep the Aspidistra Flying, The Road to Wigan Pier, Homage to Catalonia and Animal Farm. For Catalonia she personally experienced the horrors of the Spanish Civil War during her honeymoon.

In chapters titled by the books Orwell was working on, Chalupa fictionalises the story by putting words into Eileen’s mouth, but they’re convincing words true to a consistent character, although the occasional Americanism slips into what ought to be English dialogue (“write me”). Orwell extended his feet of clay to his legs, and despite, or perhaps because of his passion he was a difficult man, yet we’re shown Eileen as being just as true to herself and with perhaps greater justification.

Much of our impression of Eileen is down to wonderful art from Brahm Revel. As illustrated, she might be Hopey Glass, with whom she shares multiple characteristics. Brahm’s expressive panels show her as lively, provocative and with a justified chip on her shoulder, and she’s embedded in her environment wherever that may be. Revel uses multiple small panels to a page, and each of them is precise, detailed and expressive. Conversation dominates the early part of Mrs. Orwell, always interestingly drawn, but the horrors of the Spanish Civil War are excruciatingly supplied.

Biographical research can sometimes supply knowledge inadequately passed on. Complex betrayals and factionalisation during that war are better known to Chupra than most readers, and needed greater explanation. Considering what developed, Eileen meeting Georges Kopp is also undersold, yet her later persistence regarding his freedom is a highlight.

In her afterword Chupra writes of feeling a kinship with Eileen Blair as she researched a previous book. The result is a bright spotlight on someone whose primary place in history is either behind the scenes or accompanying Orwell, yet who was courageous, determined and most of all individual.