Nineteen Eighty-four - George Orwell Reviews

'Nineteen Eighty-Four' is the only novel that I have ever read twice. I tend not to read books twice, because there are so many excellent books out there, that there just isn't time to waste reading individual books more than once. However, the first time I read this book, I was studying GCSE English, and had to read it. I don't ...  Read the complete review

1984 is a study of a totalitarian future. The principal character is Winston Smith, Winston is a 'thought criminal' which means he has unsound thoughts against the party. For example the party has these slogans ' war is peace' 'freedom is slavery' 'ignorance is knowledge' which might give you some idea of the party ...  Read the complete review

I decided to read this book simply because of its good reputation and because I loved George Orwell’s other very famous novel “Animal Farm”. The danger with using this method of decision is that you can be disappointed more easily than if you just start to read an unknown book and discover how good it is for yourself. So, I tried ...  Read the complete review

This was a magnificently written book by one of Britains great authors. It kept me entertained for the three days it took me to read it and kept me thinking about it for another two weeks. Once you read this book you begin to realise that we are living in an increasingly 'big-brother' orientated world, with an increase in numbers of CCTV ...  Read the complete review

1984. A year in which the current crop of teenagers were being born or conceived, or a dim message warning of the future. The book seems to be a futurist nightmare of when nobody is free from surveillance and when we all believe what the authorities want us to believe. The more you read the book, the more you realize that although it is not 100% ...  Read the complete review

Having already read the fantastic Animal Farm (no, not the porn film), I felt truly inspired to read this gripping fantasy which is set in the future (actually Orwell wrote it in the 1930's and wrote about the future/year 1984 hence the title). Winston seems to be a normal working class 'comrade' living in a world where you have to ...  Read the complete review

Orwell wrote this book in 1948, when Stalin was in full flow as the totalitarian leader of communist Russia and Hitler had recently fallen from the same position in Germany. To the knowledge he had of life in these dictatorships he added his ideas of the technology of the future, and in so doing he envisioned very little that either does not or ...  Read the complete review

Following one year after Orwell's first great masterpiece, 'Animal Farm', 1984 expands on Orwell's fears for the future of Earth following the rise of totalitarian regimes in Russia, Germany, China, Japan etc in the previous years before 1949. Whereas Animal Farm was focused on the worst aspects of communism alone, 1984 is a far greater literary ...  Read the complete review

What can I say about this book apart from READ IT!!!!!? 1984 is a political commentary, describes brutal physical and mental torture, has some of the greatest descriptions of touch and taste (rivaling Hemmingway in that department), and one of the most heart-wrenching love stories ever written (and yes, I've seen Romeo and Juliet). The ...  Read the complete review

This book could so easily be confused with a political party manifesto! Love is not important. Art and religion no longer exist. Don't break the rules because 'big brother is watching you.' This is not the text of the latest party political broadcast. Its the plot of George Orwell's 1984. Orwell's 1984 society ...  Read the complete review

I read this book expecting to be frightened but I wasn't. I was slightly pleased in how the society was put together. It wasn't so much a case of Big Brother is watching you, as Big Brother is looking after you. Would a society be so bad if we were "controlled" in this way, I don't think so. You are told what to think, how to ...  Read the complete review

I often think about how much genius it requires to write a book of this calibre. Not only is it well written and simple enough to understand, it also opens doors into the bleakness of totalitarianism and encapsulates the paranoias of technology. Following the success of the Channel Four series "Big Brother", the name has become ...  Read the complete review

1984 is Orwell's famous vision of a dystopian society, with the population watched at every turn and the patterns of life dictated almost to the letter by the state. It is an extremely compelling book, and not a little depressing at points. The issues raised will not cease to be prevalent for a long time yet - anyone paranoid about personal ...  Read the complete review

Imagine you are being watched 24 hours a day by the state. There is no religion, no art (except political), love is irrelevant. George Orwells deeply disturbing vision of the future is still as relevant today as it ever was. I actually studied this book for A'Level in 1984 and as I looked at the text book I thought BORING! This ...  Read the complete review

There are three novels I recommend to everyone, especially adolescents, to encourage critical thinking. These are Orwell's '1984', Rand's 'Anthem' (or 'Atlas Shrugged' if you have the time) and Huxley's 'Brave New World.' Orwell's vision of a totalitarian regime ruling its people under a microscope ...  Read the complete review

When I was thinking about how to write this opinion, I was in two minds. Should I go for the "Aren`t we lucky we don`t live in a world like this" view, or should I go for the "This is a view of a very possible and realistic future". After thinking long and hard about it, I have realised that the second sentiment is correct - ...  Read the complete review

I adore George Orwell's works! He is a master of the satire, and can convey humanity's greatest fears in his masterful storytelling. 1984 was no exception. it could be called a "what if" book, to show the state of the world had such and such occurred, a world where freedom is lost and hope, and love, and all that is left is ...  Read the complete review

WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, IGNORANCE IS STRENGHT. That is the Oceania motto. In the year 1984 (or maybe 1983 or even 1985, who knows?), the world has been split up into three major countries. Namely East-Asia, Eurasia and Oceania. One of the many inhabitants of Air-Strip 1(thats England-Wales-Scotland), Winston Smith finds him self ...  Read the complete review

This novel has, strangely enough, earned Orwell a reputation for being politically conservative. Orwell was NOT a conservative! He was, however, deeply troubled by the totalitarian mindset of many on the socialist left and thought that a more important evil than conservatism. In the context of his own time, he was probably right. Nineteen ...  Read the complete review

Nineteen-eighty four, written just after the end of the second world war, is a depressing view of the future. The book tells several different stories. At the basic level is the story of Winston Smith, a Joe Bloggs of time. Working hard, trying to stay out of trouble, his conscience is troubled by the world around him. The story is ...  Read the complete review