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1984 Paperback – International Edition, March 25, 2014
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It is 1984, and the worlds' three major powers-Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia-are constantly at war. In Oceania, where the Party is in power, the thought police unearth every act of dissent, and Big Brother is always watching. Winston Smith, a dutiful citizen of Oceania, works for the Ministry of Truth as a propaganda writer who rewrites history to suit the needs of the authoritarian government. But when Winston falls in love with fellow worker Julia, they begin to question the very system they work for, placing them in immense danger. Pursuing their forbidden love affair, Winston plans a rebellion against the Party in order to regain the freedom to shape his own future. But the ever-watchful Big Brother will not tolerate opposition, and for those who speak up against the system or dare to think what the Party does not want them to think, Room 101 awaits them . . .
1984 is George Orwell's haunting prophesy of the future, which has held multiple generations of readers spellbound in its chilling and terrifying vision of life under a totalitarian regime. Powerful and unforgettable, this still-relevant novel explores the obliteration of truth, individuality and liberty in a world where the ruling power seeks to control everything, from information to thought and memory.
- Print length416 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHarper Perennial
- Publication dateMarch 25, 2014
- Dimensions5.31 x 0.94 x 8 inches
- ISBN-101443434973
- ISBN-13978-1443434973
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From the Back Cover
George Orwell’s dystopian masterpiecepresents a frightening and bleak image of a future under Big Brother—a totalitarian regime that controls not just its citizens’ actions, but their very thoughts
It is 1984, and the world’s three major powers—Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia—are constantly at war. In Oceania, where the Party is in power, the thought police unearth every act of dissent, and Big Brother is always watching. Winston Smith, a dutiful citizen of Oceania, works for the Ministry of Truth as a propaganda creator who rewrites history to suit the needs of the authoritarian government. But when Winston falls in love with fellow worker Julia, they begin to question the very system they work for, placing them in immense danger. Pursuing their forbidden love affair, Winston plans a rebellion against the Party in order to regain the freedom to shape his own future. But the ever-watchful Big Brother will not tolerate opposition, and for those who speak up against the system or dare to think what the Party does not want them to think, Room 101 awaits . . .
1984 is George Orwell’s haunting prophecy of the future, which has held multiple generations of readers spellbound in its chilling and terrifying vision of life under a dictatorship. Powerful and unforgettable, this still-relevant novel, written in 1948, explores the obliteration of truth, individuality, and liberty in a world where the ruling power seeks to control everything, from information to thought and memory.
About the Author
ERIC ARTHUR BLAIR (1903–1950), better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist whose best-known works include the dystopian novel 1984 and the satirical novella Animal Farm. He is consistently ranked among the best English writers of the 20th century, and his writing has had a huge, lasting influence on contemporary culture. Several of his coined words have since entered the English language, and the word "Orwellian" is now used to describe totalitarian or authoritarian social practices.
Product details
- Publisher : Harper Perennial (March 25, 2014)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 416 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1443434973
- ISBN-13 : 978-1443434973
- Item Weight : 10.6 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.31 x 0.94 x 8 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #235,240 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #74,035 in Genre Literature & Fiction
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
George Orwell is one of England's most famous writers and social commentators. Among his works are the classic political satire Animal Farm and the dystopian nightmare vision Nineteen Eighty-Four. Orwell was also a prolific essayist, and it is for these works that he was perhaps best known during his lifetime. They include Why I Write and Politics and the English Language. His writing is at once insightful, poignant and entertaining, and continues to be read widely all over the world.
Eric Arthur Blair (George Orwell) was born in 1903 in India, where his father worked for the Civil Service. The family moved to England in 1907 and in 1917 Orwell entered Eton, where he contributed regularly to the various college magazines. From 1922 to 1927 he served with the Indian Imperial Police in Burma, an experience that inspired his first novel, Burmese Days (1934). Several years of poverty followed. He lived in Paris for two years before returning to England, where he worked successively as a private tutor, schoolteacher and bookshop assistant, and contributed reviews and articles to a number of periodicals. Down and Out in Paris and London was published in 1933. In 1936 he was commissioned by Victor Gollancz to visit areas of mass unemployment in Lancashire and Yorkshire, and The Road to Wigan Pier (1937) is a powerful description of the poverty he saw there.
At the end of 1936 Orwell went to Spain to fight for the Republicans and was wounded. Homage to Catalonia is his account of the civil war. He was admitted to a sanatorium in 1938 and from then on was never fully fit. He spent six months in Morocco and there wrote Coming Up for Air. During the Second World War he served in the Home Guard and worked for the BBC Eastern Service from 1941 to 1943. As literary editor of the Tribune he contributed a regular page of political and literary commentary, and he also wrote for the Observer and later for the Manchester Evening News. His unique political allegory, Animal Farm was published in 1945, and it was this novel, together with Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), which brought him world-wide fame.
It was around this time that Orwell's unique political allegory Animal Farm (1945) was published. The novel is recognised as a classic of modern political satire and is simultaneously an engaging story and convincing allegory. It was this novel, together with Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), which finally brought him world-wide fame. Nineteen Eighty-Four's ominous depiction of a repressive, totalitarian regime shocked contemporary readers, but ensures that the book remains perhaps the preeminent dystopian novel of modern literature.
Orwell's fiercely moral writing has consistently struck a chord with each passing generation. The intense honesty and insight of his essays and non-fiction made Orwell one of the foremost social commentators of his age. Added to this, his ability to construct elaborately imaginative fictional worlds, which he imbued with this acute sense of morality, has undoubtedly assured his contemporary and future relevance.
George Orwell died in London in January 1950.
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This novel is a stark and chilling portrayal of a totalitarian society where Big Brother watches your every move, and individual freedom is but a distant memory. George Orwell's ability to craft a dystopian world that is both frighteningly believable and thought-provoking is commendable. The bleakness of the society he depicts is a powerful warning about the dangers of surveillance, censorship, and the manipulation of truth.
Winston Smith, the protagonist, is a character whose inner turmoil and rebellion against the Party's oppressive regime are both relatable and engaging. His journey of self-discovery and resistance is at the heart of the narrative and keeps the reader invested.
Orwell's writing style is clear and evocative, and his ability to convey the bleakness of the world he envisions is masterful. The use of Newspeak, the Party's language designed to limit thought and expression, is a brilliant literary device that adds depth to the story.
What keeps this review from being a full five stars is the heavy-handedness of some of the themes and the unrelenting darkness of the narrative. While the novel's message is clear and important, at times it feels like Orwell is hammering his point home a bit too forcefully, which can make the reading experience feel didactic.
Furthermore, the unrelenting bleakness of the world Orwell presents can be emotionally draining. While it serves a purpose in conveying the oppressive nature of the society, it can also make the book a challenging and somewhat disheartening read.
In summary, "1984" is a classic that remains as relevant today as when it was first published. It's a thought-provoking and cautionary tale about the dangers of totalitarianism and the erosion of individual freedoms. While it can be a heavy read at times, it's a book that every reader should encounter at least once in their lifetime, earning a solid four stars for its enduring impact on literature and society.
Incredible book. For a book that was written so long ago, the author was very forward-thinking. Kinda makes you worry about some of the stuff you see happening in the world today.