"A compelling, striking nightmarish vision of a dystopian world, this remains one of the most chilling yet favourite books I've ever read"
One of the most renowned classics of all time was brought to us by George Orwell in 1949. A compelling, striking nightmarish vision of a dystopian world, this remains one of the most chilling yet favourite books I've ever read and one of the best openings of a book ever: "It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen" So much of it has entered our language, becoming an integrated part of our common cultural inheritance, that I'm sure many people don't even realise their beginnings.
It is the year 1984 and the world is divided into three superstates each at war with eachother. Britain is Airstrip One ruled by the Party and led by Big Brother, the symbolic face of totalitarianism. Even love is considered subversive and we follow the story of Winston Smith who works in the Ministry of Truth where his job is to rewrite the past to fit the present. Depicting everyman, Winston begins to subtlely rebel by writing a secret diary, a deadly thought crime in a society where the actions and thoughts of the people are strictly controlled through propaganda, secrecy, constant surveillance, and harsh punishment. Where will it end? This book will stay with you, and will never be forgotten.
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| Primary Genre | Dystopian and utopian fiction |
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One of the BBC's '100 Novels That Shaped Our World'. HarperCollins is proud to present our range of timeless literary classics.
'Big Brother is Watching You.'
Winston Smith rewrites history. It's his job. Hidden away in the Record Department of the sprawling Ministry of Truth, he helps the Party, and the omnipresent Big Brother, control the people of Oceania. But the notebook he's begun to write in is against the rules - in fact, the Thought Police could arrest him simply for having it. Despite the danger, a seed of rebellion has begun to grow in Winston's heart - one that could have devastating consequences.
In George Orwell's final novel, he explores a dystopian future in which a totalitarian government controls the actions, thoughts and even emotions of its citizens. Its lasting popularity is testament to Orwell's powerful prose, and is a passionate warning for today.
1984 features in the following genres: Dystopian and utopian fiction, Classic fiction: general and literary, Speculative fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Audiobooks of the Month, Recommendations
1984 is available in Hardback, Paperback, Ebook, Audiobook
1984 was written by George Orwell and published by William Collins an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
1984 has 384 pages
Yes it is part of Collins Classics series
£7.19
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