Whilst at school, a young Alan Johnson was given some money by a teacher and told to go and buy four copies of any book for the school library.

He headed down the Kings Road in Chelsea, stopping only for a sly cigarette along the way.

Having already read 'Animal Farm', he picked 'Keep the Aspidistra Flying' and yearned for the life of lead character Gordon Comstock.

Former Home Secretary Alan Johnson tells Matthew Parris, why Orwell was crucial to his education and political development.

But he's surprised to learn that Orwell is not on the National Curriculum, and insists that Orwell would have hated ID cards.

With Jean Seaton, Professor of Media History at the University of Westminster and Chair of the Orwell Prize.

Producers: Beatrice Fenton and Toby Field.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2012.

George Orwell 28:00 Share

Great Lives