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1984
By George Orwell

NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR, first published in 1949, was a bitter protest against the nightmarish direction in which the author believed the modern world was moving. In this deeply satiric tale, Winston Smith lives in London, which is part of the country Oceania. The world is divided into three countries: Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia. Oceania is a totalitarian society led by Big Brother. Disgusted with his oppressed life, Smith secretly wishes to join the fabled Brotherhood, a group of underground rebels intent on overthrowing the government. Smith secretly falls in love with Julia and is trapped by O’Brian, a faithful member of the Big Brother until his beliefs coincide with those of the Party. Orwell said that the book was written ‘‘to alter other people’s idea of the kind of society they should strive after.’’ Eventually, he denounces everything and is released back into the public where he wastes his days at the Chestnut Tree drinking gin.
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