Commemorative plaque with slate
A unique object is now among our exhibits. It happened on the occasion of the opening of the exhibition entitled 1984: George Orwell and Czechoslovakia. It is a commemorative slate plaque from the roof of the house where this writer wrote his world-famous novel 1984. It is also the place where his son Richard Blair, patron of The Orwell Society, spent his childhood. The Society has been cherishing this stone since June 2014, when the roofing was being replaced in the village of Barnhill, where Orwell House stands. At that time, the stone was donated to them by the Fletcher family, the same family that rented the house to Orwell in the 1940s. The isolated Barnhill Farm, where Orwell wrote the novel 1984, is on the remote Scottish island of Jura. You can still rent the house today and the living conditions are much the same as they were then. It is still only accessible by boat. And the atmosphere there can awaken the creative spirit in you too. But is it possible to overcome Orwell's unforgettable, terrifying vision of the future of mankind? The house on the memorial plaque was created by British illustrator Mark Mc Laughlin, who specialises in watercolour and oil paintings.
The Orwell Society aims to promote interest in the life and work of George Orwell, by his own name Eric Arthur Blair (1903-1950). Combining the inspiration and commitment of Dione Venables and the active support of Orwell's son Richard Blair and Professor Peter Davison, the Society was formed in late 2010 and early 2011.
The Orwell Society is a registered charity. This status is due to its educational activities. This includes financial awards for young writers writing dystopian literature and young journalists. It also awards special prizes to teachers in schools in economically struggling areas. The President of the Orwell Society, Quentin Kopp, honoured us with his visit on the occasion of the opening of the exhibition 1984: George Orwell and Czechoslovakia, which can be visited until 25 September 2024 in Kampa Park, opposite the Werich Villa. A catalogue has also been produced to accompany the exhibition, which includes a number of unique photographs and documents. The catalogue can be purchased in the Kosmas sales network or at our events.
During the opening of the exhibition, Czech Radio interviewed Petr Blažek, the director of the Museum of Memory of the XXth Century, which was also broadcast in English and German.
