BOOKING REQUIRED: BOOK HERE  Suitable for ages 16+

Sylvia Topp, author of the novel Eileen: The Making of George Orwell, will be joining us at The Word to discuss her book which is the never before told story of George Orwell’s first wife, Eileen O’Shaughnessy, a woman born in South Shields who shaped, supported and even saved the life of one of the 20th century’s greatest writers.

The event will also include Jarrow-born Tom Kelly ‘in conversation’ with Richard Blair, the adopted son of author George Orwell and patron of the Orwell Society, and there will be an opportunity for the audience to ask their questions.

During the event, there will be a showing of Gary Wilkinson’s Wildflower film, about Eileen O’Shaughnessy, and Tom Kelly will also read his poem about Eileen, titled You, you, you.

Copies of Sylvia’s book will be available to buy at the event.

The event has been planned with The Word by The Orwell Society whose members are in South Shields for a weekend of events originally scheduled for March 2020, which would have been the 75th anniversary of Eileen’s sadly premature death.

The Orwell Society is at https://orwellsociety.com/