Published in 1940,

coincided with Britain’s early and strategically disastrous entry into World War II and includes the eponymous essay “Inside the Whale”. This erudite and perceptive centre-piece is a largely affirmative review of Henry Miller’s novel

and provides a polymath’s overview of early twentieth century literary movements and the countervailing artistic limitations imposed by totalitarian governments. Orwell’s analysis begins with the empathetic assertion that one could emulate Henry Miller by assuming a Jonah-like stance of willful indifference to one’s social and political milieu; one could seek ultimate refuge in religion or perhaps the penultimate refuge of deracination ‘inside the whale’.

It is important to

2121 words

Citation: Williams, Nigel. "Inside the Whale". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 29 August 2013 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=4459, accessed 23 November 2024.]