1984

Thought Police. Big Brother. Orwellian. These words have become part of our national vocabulary because of George Orwell's classic novel 1984, the story of one man's nightmare odyssey through a world ruled by warring states and a power structure that controls not only information but individual thought and memory. A minor functionary named Winston Smith joins a covert brotherhood and pursues a forbidden love affair against the cold, gray backdrop of the Republic of Oceania—only to become a hunted enemy of the state . . . and of Big Brother.

Today, half a century after it was written, Orwell's prophetic, haunting tale of conformity and identity strikes a disturbing chord. As we follow Winston Smith through his rebellion, imprisonment, torture, and reeducation, we witness firsthand the worst crime we can inflict upon ourselves and others: the destruction of the truths and freedoms that make us who we are.

WARNING: 1984 will NOT enter the public domain in the United States of America until 2044 and in the European Union until 2020, although it is public domain in countries such as Canada, Russia, and Australia. We link to text on the Australian Project Gutenberg site. If you live in the US or the EU, please do not print the text. (Remember, "Big Brother is watching you!")

Old Cover

  Classic Totalitarianism

Nathan D. of Oregon, 3/3/2010

It's easy to see why the publication of 1984 has so profoundly affected political discourse on state surveillance and the influence of government on citizens' day-to-day lives. While portions of the societal picture that it paints seem far-fetched, such as the dramatic revision of historical records even during the lives of those who still remember true events, many of the details in Orwell's cautionary tale seem all too possible. Perhaps some have already begun: the indoctrination of children to report all possible signs of heresy, even from their own parents...pervasive electronic surveillance of the citizenry...warfare used as a tool to control public opinion. Some aspects of his hypothetical society even have clear historical precedent: rationing of resources, pervasive propaganda, forced "reconditioning" of dissidents, and even torture.

To fully appreciate the power of Orwell's vision, one need only look at the fact that modern innovations in government surveillance can now be effectively criticized with the simple epithet of "Big Brother."

This probably isn't the kind of book you would read for fun, but then again, it wasn't intended to be. It offers a glimpse into what a Western society might look like under "IngSoc" (English Socialism) and is thus bleak and gritty. The protagonist, Winston Smith, is portrayed as someone who is content with the dull, repetitious work he does for the ministry, and the hobbies that he enjoys the most are almost equally monotonous. He quietly defies the authorities by thinking independently and chronicling his reminiscences in a small journal. He browses a local antique store for old knick-knacks that offer a small glimpse into life before IngSoc. His only sources of excitement are developing a secret relationship with Julia, a mechanic for the Party, and joining the Brotherhood, an underground movement that never dares to engage in any open defiance. Instead, it circulates copies of "the book," a work that exposes the truth about IngSoc and offers a vague theory about how the Party might someday be overthrown. As Winston reads excerpts from the book, you get a sense of the resignation felt even by those who want to overthrow the Party and Big Brother, and this echoes the ultimately futile atmosphere that pervades 1984.

  1984 (orwell)

DJ of Ireland, 4/17/2009

It's over 30 years since I read this book (required reading at school/before I was saved). I was surprised to see this book for sale on this site. As far as I can remember it has a sex scene (or perhaps more than one). Caution advised!