1984
George Orwell
1949
Genre: Dystopia
Written in: English (British)
Historical context (a.k.a what the world was like when this book was written): Post-war Britain. The country was exhausted. London still bore the scars of German bombing; food was scarce, buildings damaged. Orwell witnessed, first, fighting in the Spanish Civil war (1936) and then, WWII, how the manipulation of information (controlling the mind, the public opinion) could be as powerful as controlling people physically.
What it’s about: The world is divided into three perpetually warring superpowers. In London, Oceania, where the story takes place, the regime is led by the omnipresent figure of Big Brother. Citizens are watched 24/7 through television screens and monitored by the Thought Police. Winston Smith, a low-ranking Outer Party member, increasingly disillusioned by the Party, starts an illegal diary to record his anti-Party thoughts. As he attempts to rebel against the system, he discovers just how far the Party is willing to go to maintain its power.
Why we love it: (or in that case: why we need it)
This story is quite a terrifying fiction. But it’s only enough to open a book about WWII to know that it is nothing but a reality our grandfathers had to live. We need to face that, and remember.
Addictive reading.’The story-telling is compelling
Quotes
“Quote 1”
‘Quote 2’
Quote 3’
‘Best quote for the final.’
The questions asked:
Q1