The Road to Wigan Pier.

ORWELL, George. With a foreword by Victor Gollancz.

Item Number: 105243

London: Victor Gollancz Ltd, 1937.

First edition of Orwell’s renowned sociological analysis of working class life in the bleak industrial heartlands of Northern England prior to the Second World War, commissioned by Victor Gollancz in January of 1936. Octavo, original wrappers as issued, with 32 photographic plates. In near fine condition.

Commissioned by Victor Gollancz in January 1936, Orwell received a £500 advance (two years' income for him at the time), and researched the present volyme by spending the harsh winter of 1936 living in Barnsley, Sheffield and Wigan; three urban areas of heavy industry producing coal, steel and textiles respectively. Orwell originally believed The Road to Wigan Pier would not be included in Gollancz's Left Book Club as "it is too fragmentary and, on the surface, not very left-wing" (Fenwick). By December 29 1936, however, the work was set as a choice for the March 1937 list. By the time the book was published Orwell was in Spain and did not see a copy of this edition until late April when he was home on leave. A casebound trade issue of 2,150 copies was also released.