Genre: Writing, English Language, Politics, History

This book was no surprise to me when I come to think of George Orwell. In fact it has everything you can ask for from a class Orwellian masterpiece - political intrigue and debate followed by a distinct argument and perspective.

​Notably this collection of works by Orwell does this in a more direct way than his fictionalised counterparts. Gone are the use of metaphors and similes and replaced with direct references and assumptions. I do believe, however, that if this had used the former then it would not have been as greater impact.

My only criticism of this collection of essays is the bias and reluctance to consider multiple points of views within the arguments of each essay, and where this has been done they have been ridiculed or put-down.

The essay, 'Politics and the English Language', although fairly wordy offers some insightful and useful techniques for writing; especially his 6 rules for writing, which I would employ every professional and aspiring writer to know and take heed of.

I gave this book four stars because overall I enjoyed reading Orwell's arguments and seeing his perspective, it has made me want to read more from the 'Penguin Books: Great Ideas' collection. More reviews on books like this to come soon, watch this space...

Genre: Poetry, Chapbooks, History

In this short publication Hannah O'Reilly cleverly expands on the First World War poetry with this very visual and poignant chapbook.

Letter to an Unknown Soldier contains powerful imagery and very touching account of not only the life of a soldier during the First World War, but also of their friends and family and the emotional journey that they also went through.

Hannah is clever with her use of technical devises such as metaphors, similes and repetition. However, I feel her strongest asset within this poem was the simple, but delicate use of rhetorical questions. This makes the reader think and imagine the answers to these questions, therefore they create their own ideas and images of the scene that Hannah sets.

Prior to being introduced to this pamphlet styled book by a colleague before I had never come across the Chapbook styled publication before - and I must say I was not disappointed.

Alban's illustrations compliments the poem extremely well in providing a direction to the answers to the rhetorical questions set-out within the text. The style, theme and artistic style of the drawing cannot be faulted within this little Chapbook.

I gave this book four out of five stars for what this book was trying too and did achieve in its construction. It has uniquely added itself to the vast array of First World War poetry out there by giving it a more contemporary and inquisitive nature, which allowed us to question aspects of a soldiers life previously not considered.

On a whole - I enjoyed this book immensely. So much so that I may even look at producing one myself in the not-so-distant future. Watch this space...