We’re delighted that the George Orwell statue at the BBC in London has received planning permission (Homage to George Orwell: BBC statue wins planning permission, 9 August). However, we can’t imagine Orwell “snarling”, certainly not in relation to his reasons for resigning from the BBC in 1943, and he did not leave on bad terms. His resignation letter (available on the BBC archive) is his usual model of clarity and politeness – “I feel that throughout my association with the BBC I have been treated with the greatest generosity and allowed very great latitude.” His comment that he had wasted his time for two years was typical self-deprecation.
Neil Smith
Secretary, The Orwell Society
• I do think that Martin Jennings, the sculptor, is missing the mark if he intends to make George Orwell look “ragged” or scruffy. While the writer did live in and experience poverty, his family were not poor and, as Eric Blair, he had his trousers and jackets made to measure throughout his life. There are not many photographs of Orwell extant, and none at all of his very last months, but in none that do exist is he in any way badly dressed.
Philip Clayton
London
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