[Idiom] Underneath the rock

[kkrisxc]

Hello, I was reading an article from The New Yorker and I wonder what 'underneath the rock' means in this sentence.Thank you in advance!

'In the spring of 1946, George Orwell, writing in the London Tribune, opened with a view fromunderneath the rock: In a cold but stuffy bed-sitting room littered with cigarette ends and half-empty cups of tea, a man in a moth-eaten dressing-gown sits at a rickety table, trying......'

Link of the article if needed:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/03/07/critics-in-the-age-of-opinion

 

[PeterCW]

Welcome, K!

Good question.

He meant the lowest level of society, the dregs, the bottom of the barrel, the pits.

I would disagree with that interpretation, you appear to be thinking about Down and Out in Paris and London rather than the quoted essay Confessions of a Book Reviewer.


A perfunctory reading of the essay (available here) gives the impression of Orwell buried, in a metaphorical sense, by the volume of work that his editor was expecting. Having had to deal with similar volumes of CDs, from the other side of the editor's desk, I can appreciate his feelings and the points that he made.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I would disagree with that interpretation, you appear to be thinking about Down and Out in Paris and London rather than the quoted essay Confessions of a Book Reviewer.


A perfunctory reading of the essay (available here) gives the impression of Orwell burried, in a metaphorical sense, by the volume of work that his editor was expecting. Having had to deal with similar volumes of CDs, from the other side of the editor's desk, I can appreciate his feelings and the points that he made.

You're right. I was thinking of Down and Out. I think I have Confessions, too.

Now excuse me while I delete my post! . . .

 

[teechar]

I would disagree with that interpretation. You appear to be thinking about Down and Out in Paris and London rather than the quoted essay

That's yet another comma-splice error from you Peter. I'm surprised you're still making them.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

That's yet another comma-splice error from you Peter. I'm surprised you're still making them.

I'll allow it.