"'Bit of an anarchist'
Orwell is best known for books including 1984 and Animal Farm, which criticise totalitarianism, and other works attacking inequality, including Down and Out in Paris and London and The Road to Wigan Pier.
The records show Orwell first came to the attention of intelligence service MI6 in 1929 when he was in France and offered to become Paris correspondent for the Workers Life.
In 1942, a record described him as "a bit of an anarchist in his day and in touch with extremist elements".
He had "undoubtedly strong left-wing views, but he is a long way from orthodox communism", it added."
I've always loved 1984 and Animal Farm, so to read all these years later that MI5 thought he was an Anarchist just makes me smile.
