94 pages • 3 hours read
1984
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Book Brief
328
Novel • Fiction
Airstrip One • 1984
1949
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In George Orwell’s 1984, Winston Smith, an Outer Party member in the totalitarian state of Oceania, secretly despises the Party and its figurehead, Big Brother. He engages in a clandestine love affair with Julia and explores anti-Party sentiments, but they are betrayed and arrested. Winston endures brutal torture, ultimately succumbing to Party ideology and losing his individuality. The novel explores themes of surveillance, oppression, and the mutability of truth.
Dark
Unnerving
Mysterious
Suspenseful
Contemplative
Reviews & Readership
4,925,121 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
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Review Roundup
George Orwell's 1984 is lauded for its incisive portrayal of totalitarianism and its chillingly relevant social commentary. Critics praise its dystopian vision and complex characters. However, some find its bleakness overwhelming and its prose dense. Overall, it remains a seminal work in political literature.
Who Should Read 1984?
A reader who would enjoy 1984 by George Orwell is intellectually curious, appreciates dystopian fiction, and is interested in themes of totalitarianism, surveillance, and individualism. Readers of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 would find this book compelling.
4,925,121 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Julia
Julia
Julia is Winston's love interest and a fellow member of the Outer Party in *1984*. She works in the Fiction Department at the Ministry of Truth. Julia engages in a secretive love affair with Winston as a form of rebellion against the Party, despite her primary interest in physical rebellion rather than deep philosophical dissent.
O’Brien
O’Brien
O'Brien is the antagonist in *1984*, who presents himself as an ally to Winston. He is a high-ranking Inner Party member who initially appears sympathetic to Winston's anti-Party sentiments. However, his true allegiance and role become more complex as the story unfolds.
Mr. Charrington
Mr. Charrington
Mr. Charrington is introduced as a prole shopkeeper with an interest in pre-revolutionary history in *1984*. His character takes a significant turn, revealing deeper layers to his identity and his connection to the Party's surveillance strategies.
328
Novel • Fiction
Airstrip One • 1984
1949
Adult
18+ years
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