Nineteen Eighty-Four

A dystopian novel, 1984 is one of the most influential works of the twentieth century by George Orwell. 1984 is set in Oceania, one of three inter-continental super states that divided the world after a global war. The protagonist Winston Smith is a member of the Outer Party, works in the Records Department of the Ministry of Truth as an editor, revising historical records, deleting references to people who have been "vaporised". The city is ruled by a mysterious leader known as Big Brother. Telescreens, microphones and cameras are installed in every building that allows the Thought Police to identify anyone who might compromise the Party's regime. People there are afraid for being arrested for thought crime due to the infraction of expressing thoughts contradictory to the Party's ideology. Smith tries to get more information about the true past, and purchases an old journal in an antiques shop in a proletarian neighbourhood of London. In a place beside his flat's telescreen where he believes he cannot be seen, he begins writing a journal criticizing the Party and its enigmatic leader, Big Brother. By doing so, he commits a crime that, if discovered by the Thought Police, warrants certain death. Winston quickly resigns himself to the fact that he will eventually be arrested for thought crime. In the journal, he records his sexual frustration over a young woman maintaining the novel-writing machines at the ministry named Julia, whom Winston is attracted to but suspects is an informant?. A love story set in the background of war, confusion, doubts, insanity and manipulations, 1984 is classic in its content, plot and style. In 2005, the novel was chosen by Time magazine as one of the 100 best English-language novels. In 2003, the novel was listed at number 8 on the BBC's survey The Big Read. Embassy Books proudly presents this book as part of the Embassy Classics Series, which comprises of some of the finest literary works of great authors.