Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Avoiding all thoughts of the coming night

Quite a nice image from Orwell, 21 September 1940:

Withal, huge areas of London almost normal, and everyone quite happy in the daytime, never seeming to think about the coming night, like animals which are unable to foresee the future so long as they have a bit of food and a place in the sun. 

Along with noting the imagery, it occurs to me that 'withal' is used far too seldom these days.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

"Whilst"--common among Brits, nearly unknown among Americans--also has an antiquated but charming ring to it.