George Orwell's paean to the end of an idyllic era in British history, Coming Up for Air is a poignant account of one man's attempt to recapture childhood innocence as war looms on the horizon. He is married to Hilda, who at 39 is: “very thin and rather wizened, with a perpetual brooding, worried look in her eyes” according to George. This second part is a lengthy exposition which feels so authentic and drawn from life, that once more we wonder about the two Georges.

The second section is packed full of nostalgic descriptions, but as part of a novel this is overlong and rather self-indulgent. This is a world of innocence, and of vivid sights and smells; of boyhood, family life and rambling in the country.Some readers might find it surprising that Orwell had a bit of sympathy for the chap trying to get away. There are some similarities between the two, and frequently we see observations made by George Bowling which seem rather too knowing about himself; too astute and objective about the world to be consistent with the thoughts of this character. It was submitted to Victor Gollancz, who had an option on Orwell's next three novels, in spite of the 'cold treatment which [Orwell] had been given when Homage to Catalonia was rejected. It was almost as if I could stand at a distance and watch myself coming down the road, with my fat, red face and my false teeth and my vulgar clothes. His namesake, the author had been too young to fight in World War I, but had fought in Catalonia, in the Spanish civil war, initially for the Republican army, although the politics became very complicated.

I'd just turned on some more hot water and was thinking about women and cigars when there was a noise like a herd of buffaloes coming down the two steps that lead to the bathroom. This results in a string of memories from his childhood, and readers are immediately transported to Lower Binfield, George’s own little Garden of Eden.

I soaped my arms (I've got those kind of pudgy arms that are freckled up to the elbow) and then took the back-brush and soaped my shoulder-blades, which in the ordinary way I can't reach.