Scott Lucas is a regular contributor to the New Statesman. He is Professor of International Politics at the University of Birmingham and author of numerous books on US and British foreign policy, intelligence services, culture and ideology. He is the author of Orwell: LIfe and Times (2003).

INTRODUCTION
1 Orwell, Policeman of the 'Left'
2 The Canonisation of St. George
3 Christopher Hitchens: Becoming George
4 9-11
5 Beyond the Spirit of '68
6 Our Friends in America
7 How We Dissent: On Bushmen and the 'Preponderance of Power'
8 On the Eve of War: March 2003
9 Dissent and 'Liberation'
EPILOGUE Beyond Orwell in Our New American Century

Since his death in 1950, George Orwell has been canonised as England's foremost political writer, and the standard-bearer of honesty and decency for the honourable 'Left'. In this controversial polemic, Scott Lucas argues that the exaltation of Orwell, far from upholding dissent against the State, has sought to quash such opposition. Indeed, Orwell has become the icon of those who, in the pose of the contrarian, try to silence public opposition to US and U K foreign policy in the 'War on Terror'.
Lucas's lively and readable critique of public intellectuals including Christopher Hitchens, Michael Walzer, David Aaronovitch, and Johann Hari - who have all invoked Orwellian honesty and decency to shut down dissent - will appeal to anyone disillusioned with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.