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Nineteen Eighty-Four (also published as 1984) is a dystopian novel and cautionary tale by English writer George Orwell. It was published on 8 June 1949 by Secker & Warburg as Orwell's ninth and final book completed in his lifetime. Thematically, it centres on the consequences of totalitarianism, mass surveillance, and repressive regimentation ...
- George Orwell
- 328
- 1949
- 8 June 1949
- Overview
- Summary
- Analysis
Nineteen Eighty-four, novel by English author George Orwell published in 1949 as a warning against totalitarianism. The chilling dystopia made a deep impression on readers, and his ideas entered mainstream culture in a way achieved by very few books. The book’s title and many of its concepts, such as Big Brother and the Thought Police, are instantl...
The book is set in 1984 in Oceania, one of three perpetually warring totalitarian states (the other two are Eurasia and Eastasia). Oceania is governed by the all-controlling Party, which has brainwashed the population into unthinking obedience to its leader, Big Brother. The Party has created a propagandistic language known as Newspeak, which is designed to limit free thought and promote the Party’s doctrines. Its words include doublethink (belief in contradictory ideas simultaneously), which is reflected in the Party’s slogans: “War is peace,” “Freedom is slavery,” and “Ignorance is strength.” The Party maintains control through the Thought Police and continual surveillance.
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The book’s hero, Winston Smith, is a minor party functionary living in a London that is still shattered by a nuclear war that took place not long after World War II. He belongs to the Outer Party, and his job is to rewrite history in the Ministry of Truth, bringing it in line with current political thinking. However, Winston’s longing for truth and decency leads him to secretly rebel against the government. He embarks on a forbidden affair with Julia, a like-minded woman, and they rent a room in a neighbourhood populated by Proles (short for proletariats). Winston also becomes increasingly interested in the Brotherhood, a group of dissenters. Unbeknownst to Winston and Julia, however, they are being watched closely (ubiquitous posters throughout the city warn residents that “Big Brother is watching you.”).
Orwell wrote Nineteen Eighty-four as a warning after years of brooding on the twin menaces of Nazism and Stalinism. Its depiction of a state where daring to think differently is rewarded with torture, where people are monitored every second of the day, and where party propaganda trumps free speech and thought is a sobering reminder of the evils of ...
Learn about the novel 1984 by George Orwell, a dystopian masterpiece set in a totalitarian state where the Party controls everything. Find book summary, character analysis, quotes, and more in this comprehensive study guide.
A dystopian novel set in a future world where a totalitarian regime controls the citizens through surveillance, propaganda, and war. The protagonist, Winston Smith, rebels against the Party by falling in love and keeping a diary, but is betrayed and tortured by his allies.
A dystopian novel by George Orwell about a rebellious man named Winston Smith who lives in a totalitarian society. Learn about the plot, themes, characters, and historical context of 1984 with this comprehensive summary.
- George Orwell
- 1949
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Mar 22, 1985 · A 1984 film directed by Michael Radford, starring John Hurt as Winston Smith, a rebel in a totalitarian society. The film features scenes of torture, doublethink, and Big Brother's omnipresence, based on George Orwell's classic novel.
May 10, 2009 · In 1946 Observer editor David Astor lent George Orwell a remote Scottish farmhouse in which to write his new book, Nineteen Eighty-Four. It became one of the most significant novels of the 20th ...
