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1984

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1984

By: George Orwell
Narrated by: Andrew Wincott
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About this listen

Big Brother is watching you....

1984 is the year in which it happens. The world is divided into three superstates. In Oceania, the Party’s power is absolute. Every action, word, gesture and thought is monitored under the watchful eye of Big Brother and the Thought Police. In the Ministry of Truth, the Party’s department for propaganda, Winston Smith’s job is to edit the past. Over time, the impulse to escape the machine and live independently takes hold of him and he embarks on a secret and forbidden love affair. As he writes the words ‘DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER’, his personal rebellion begins....

George Orwell’s masterpiece is the definitive dystopian novel and one of the most influential works of the twentieth century.

©1949 George Orwell (P)2015 Canongate Books Ltd
Classics Dystopian Fiction Literary Fiction Political Science Fiction Scary

Critic Reviews

"I read it again, and again...right up there among my favourite books." (Margaret Atwood, Guardian)
"My favourite book is 1984... More relevant to today than almost any other book that you can think of." (Jo Brand)
"His final masterpiece...enthralling and indispensable for understanding modern history." (New York Review of Books)

What listeners say about 1984

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Incredibly relevant to our age.

Believe it or not but this book almost perfectly exspalins what China has become and what the rest of the "free world" might become. But dead set, China of today is what this book warns of.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Slow Ramp

Boy, oh boy did this book start slow. Stick to this book and it pays off bigtime! It's amazing how similar the concepts in the book are to todays modern political climate.

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Even more relevant today

Brutal, chilling, brilliant and compelling. This timeless
masterpiece is more relevant today than ever given the rise of China.

The reading was beautifully performed., perfectly complimenting the masterful prosecutor e.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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1984 = China now & “That last bit”

The story line was amazing. I was hooked in abs couldn’t stop listening. Walking the dog, painting the house, I was hooked.

Then at the end there is this part about the language. This section drags on and on. There is no reason for it, it’s like we are being taught it because we need to learn it. The story is over than this stuff comes up.

When you hear the words “The End” save yourself that final hour or so. You will never get that time back.

The book reminds me of what we are currently seeing in China. I have a friend in China and he fully agrees with the whole thing. That’s how it is there now.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great book, well told

A couple verbal typo's regarding chapter numbers; but very well told and very engaging. Love the atmosphere created

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Finally

Any additional comments?

This book has been in my 'to read' list for a decade and I end up listening to it... The narrator was really good but I would've preferred someone else do the female voices. It took a few chapters to get into although unsure if it was the novel itself or because this was the first novel I've listened to. I thought the story was good and worth the 'read' however, even though I feel the main character works for the story, *mild spoilers* don't expect a hero if you haven't already read it.

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What an experience

One of the most breathtaking thriller novels I came across. Incredible narration of this dystopian masterpiece. Highly recommended.

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Incredible

loved it, amazing narrator, 1984 + Road to Wiggim Pier are to of Orwell's best!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A few more steps China can be on the path to 1984

It's surprising that the local translation version of 1984 is NOT banned in China given how accurate it predicts a single-partied nation could risk degrade into (though as at 2019, things are way less severe compared to what the book says). It rings a tone of alarm bells for people who still feel the connection to that country and I am genuinely worried about the future of its people; I do feel powerless in the face of the reality and avoidance/escaping always seem easier but regretful by the end of my life (that I did not try my best to fight against it).

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Encapsulating

Flawless narration, kept my attention and found it difficult to stop listening. This book explores the ideas of power and language and the manipulation of mind through language. To explore one’s deepest inner self. Aroused many before unexplored thoughts of the human spirit, and what it is to be human within a civilisation as a whole. Absolutely blown away by the writing and story. This book has quickly become one of my favourites.

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