Nineteen Eighty-Four, by George Orwell (the pen name of Eric Arthur Blair), is a 1949 English novel about life under a futuristic authoritarian regime in the year 1984. It tells the story of Winston Smith, a functionary at the Ministry of Truth, whose work consists of editing historical accounts to fit the government's policies. Smith is degraded and tortured after he is arrested by the Thought Police under the instruction of the totalitarian government of Oceania.
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Well written, but so joyless I didn't really enjoy it much. While a warning of the dangers of big government is bound to be a LITTLE depressing, the characters had so little enjoyment in anything (even sex???) that I couldn't find it in my heart to care what happened to them.
I read this back in 8th grade and decided to pick it up again. I must say, I appreciated it much more the second time around. This book is serves as a warning as to what may come (and has even begun)!
George Orwell will show you how writing should be done. Simple, evocative and powerful.
An uncompromising look at what a lot of people strive for in society.
I had to read this the summer before I started high school, but I couldn't finish it... I was probably just too young or something. I may pick it up again someday.
This novel stands alongside Huxley's 'Brave New World', Bradbury's 'Fahrenheit 451', Atwood's 'Handmaid's Tale' and Golding's 'Lord of the Flies' in predicting the sort of hell that we can create for ourselves when we allow fear and hatred to drive the rules we choose to live by.
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