[lbo-talk] THE BETRAYAL OF DISSENT:Beyond Orwell, Hitchens and the New American Century

[Michael Pugliese]

http://www.plutobooks.com/
THE BETRAYAL OF DISSENT:
Beyond Orwell, Hitchens and the New American Century 
Scott Lucas

February 2004 / 336pp / Pb £10.99 / 0745321976 / Hb £35.00 / 0745321984 

In this controversial polemic, Scott Lucas argues that the exaltation of Orwell as the standard-bearer of honesty and decency for the honourable 'Left' has, far from upholding dissent against the State, sought to quash such opposition. Indeed, Orwell has become the icon of those who, in the pose of the contrarian, try to silence public opposition to US and U K foreign policy in the 'War on Terror'. Providing a lively and readable critique of public intellectuals from Christopher Hitchens to Michael Walzer to David Aaronovitch, he contends that these leading journalists and commentators have used Orwell to justify their own political transition from radicals to upholders of the establishment.

ŒScott Lucas Š is completely fearless, challenging not only the bombast of Christopher Hitchens and other pro-war supporters but also our preconceptions about that icon of that left, George Orwell.¹ Peter Wilby, Editor, New Statesman

Michael Pugliese