Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell

April 12th, 2008

Nineteen Eighty-Four
George Orwell
326 p.

Penguin Classics, 2004.
(First published 1949 by Secker and Warburg.)

Back cover blurb:

Hidden away in the Record Department of the sprawling Ministry of Truth, Winston Smith skilfully rewrites the past to suit the needs of the Party. Yet he inwardly rebels against teh totalitarian world he lives in, which demands absolute obedience and conrols him through the all-seeing telescreens and the watchful eye of Big Brother, symbolic head of the Party. In his longing for truth and liberty, Smith begins a secret love affair wtih a fellow-worker, Julia, but soon discovers the true price of freedom is betrayal.

This is another one of those books I’ve been reading for school. I’ve read it before now, a couple of years ago or so. Strangely enough, I remembered barely anything. Most of the things came as surprises this time again, which shows what a truly dreadful reader I am. Seeing as I might be asked about this in my finals next year, I do hope I’ll remember more this time around!

Despite being more than fifty years old, it’s a very lively book. When Winston towards the end was tortured, I flinched because the description were so violent and I almost felt a little ashamed at how much these descriptions affected me. Though, I guess I should applaud Orwell for being such a talented writer. Not many writers make me react to books like that.

Apart from Winston Smith, the other protagonist - if we should call her that - is Julia. I hated Julia. I really, really hated her. She never ceased to annoy me, because her entire rebelling against the Party felt so pointless. She often just made me angry. Winston, however, was rather sweet. I quite liked him.

Though, in line with the attitude to language in the novel, all we need to say is: Nineteen Eighty-Four is doubleplusgood.

Entry Filed under: English, Fiction, School reads