Reviews for The Betrayl of Dissent: Beyond Orwell, Hitchen's and the New American Century

The average rating for The Betrayl of Dissent: Beyond Orwell, Hitchen's and the New American Century based on 2 reviews is 2 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2008-02-12 00:00:00 Joseph Deacon There's a difference between being right and acting like it. Lucas is absolutely correct, I think, in one of the central arguments in his book. Many (particularly lefty) Iraq War supporters have been less than accomodating when criticism of the Iraq War comes from those who are openly against the war. And Orwell is indeed used to justify their criticism. He is invoked, to make a long story short, as a sort of exemplar for how an honorable man of the left might sneer at pacifists, for example. The problem is, Lucas seems to take this a little too much to heart. He writes almost at constantly raised voice, to the point of giving the reader a bit of a headache. You can almost hear his indignation as he sites one example after another of how his fellow liberals didnt seem to take him seriously. Being opposed to the war is an excellent place from which to start to critize pro war stances, particularly those from the people on the left, but not when you're back is raised. I completely understand, and sympathize, with the back-against-the-wall feeling that Lucas exhibits. the problem is, his prose as well as his argument falters when it tries to engage its opposition. He's too pissed off for his own good. His book and his research is worthewhile, and illuminating, but it is not going to be a strong enough anti-war statement to last. Pity.

Review # 2 was written on 2010-04-21 00:00:00 arthur owyoung Could have been much better. Really, the first two chapters on Christopher Hitchens and the unpleasant side to Orwell's politics are the best, while the rest is a frenzied and dense recounting, for those who need it, of the lies, smears and nonsense uttered by self-proclaimed lovers of Orwell in their support for war. There are more nuanced criticisms of Orwell out there, and much more savage and deserving critiques of Hitchens out there, as well. On the other hand, if you want the shortest and most damning attack on Orwell I've ever read, then go find John Dolan's article on the subject for the old exile.ru magazine.