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1984 Audiobook
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(4.00) - 902,239 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
One of the most celebrated classics of the twentieth century, this cautionary tale of a man trapped under the gaze of an authoritarian state is more relevant now than ever before.
“Thoughtcrime was not a thing that could be concealed for ever. You might dodge successfully for a while, even for years, but sooner or later they were bound to get you.”
Winston Smith works in the Ministry of Truth—or Minitrue as it is called in Newspeak—where he alters newspapers and reports to follow the arbitrary dictates of Big Brother’s propaganda. Beneath his outward conformity, however, Winston dreams of sharing his treasonable thoughts andbreaking through the loneliness in which he lives.
Thus he takes his first dangerous steps, writing a diary of his doubts and then falling in love with a woman of the Party, the beautiful and brave Julia. They know their love is doomed, but Julia says, “They can make you say anything—anything—but they can’t make you believe it.”
But in Oceania, there is no possibility of solidarity, rebellion, or love—and the Party can reach anywhere.
First published in 1949, this disturbing novel that George Orwell wrote during a time of great social and political unrest centers on the consequences of totalitarianism, mass surveillance, and repressive regimentation of people and behaviors within society.
This classic of dystopian fiction contributed new words that became part of common English usage, including Big Brother, doublethink, newspeak, and thoughtcrime. The adjective "Orwellian" has come to mean government deception, surveillance, and misleading terminology.
Cover illustration & Design by Derek Anderson and Joel Anderson. © Anderson Design Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Licensed by Anderson Design Group.
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"I really, really liked the first half of the book. I could not put it down, and loved the questions it posed. However, halfway through, I got really sick of Orwell using "literally", "continuous", "intermittently", "furtively", and other words that got overused beyond belief. I also thought it got a bit repetitive/redundant after a while. I still enjoyed it, just not as much as I thought I would."
— Levi (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“One of the most significant novels of the twentieth century.”
— The Guardian (London) -
“A profound, terrifying, and wholly fascinating book…Orwell’s theory of power is developed brilliantly.”
— The New Yorker -
“The novel endures for its chilling portrayal of the dangers of a post-truth surveillance state.”
— O, The Oprah Magazine -
“No novel of the past century has had more influence than George Orwell’s 1984.”
— The Atlantic -
“A work of extraordinary quality and intensity.”
— The Independent (London) -
“Orwell’s novel escorts us so quietly, so directly, and so dramatically from our own day to the fate which may be ours in the future, that the experience is a blood-chilling one.”
— Saturday Review -
“A book that goes through the reader like an east wind, cracking the skin…Such are the originality, the suspense, the speed of writing, and withering indignation that it is impossible to put the book down.”
— V. S. Pritchett, British author and literary critic
Awards
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Winner of the Prometheus Award
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Listed on the BBC’s Big Read Poll of the UK’s Best-Loved Books
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A New York Times Book Review pick of Best Books of the Past 125 Years
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A PBS Great American Read selection
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One of Time Magazine's Best 100 English-Language Novels from 1923–2005
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An Oprah Book Club of Dystopian Books Everyone Should Read
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A New York Times bestseller
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A USA Today bestseller
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A Washington Post Pick of Novels That Changed the Way We Live
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A New York Public Library Staff Pick of 10 Most Borrowed Books in Its History
1984 Listener Reviews
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" the world that he has created with bogbrother...a supreme, beyond god existence...thoughtcrime, thoughtpolice ...it filled my heart with the horror of what if...all the things that we take for granted are taken away...even the liberty to think is forshaken...i shudder at the thought of it... "
— Abhinav, 1/26/2014 -
" Feel like losing your mind, and becoming paranoid for good reason? Read '84. "
— Bran, 1/19/2014 -
" Great book, worth to read, I'll recommend to everybody "
— Jarek, 1/11/2014 -
" A book averyone should read many times in his life to understand the dangers of our world. "
— Jean-Philippe, 12/5/2013 -
" To this day I have no idea how one mind could create a work of this magnitude. By all means read this novel, but know that when you do it will change the way you view yourself and the world around you forever. "
— Luke, 10/27/2013 -
" Totally twisted... a lot of mind games, and one messed up gov. the book was okay, but just not something I would want to deal with in reality. "
— Johnathan, 10/11/2013 -
" A powerful and at times truly frightening novel .....I tried reading this as a teenager and it want straight over my head ! ....Now some 30 years later i found it compelling and though it has some flaws i still enjoyed it "
— Dylan, 9/27/2013 -
" Dystopian goodness. Two words: Big Brother. "
— Rachel, 9/19/2013 -
" (note: about the companion book, which is superior to the original Orwell book) At times inconsistent and intellectually incestuous, although I would like one of these for all my favorite books. "
— Emily, 8/28/2013 -
" I find more and more similarities daily... "
— Sarah, 5/17/2013 -
" Although I really liked the book and the story, the pacing was kind of slow at times which made it increasingly difficult to read. However, I would definitely recommend the book! "
— Anusha, 3/23/2013 -
" Great story! Re-reading it as an adult, I better appreciate everything about this book. "
— Monica, 3/22/2013 -
" My favourite book without any doubts. "
— Jelena, 2/11/2013 -
" Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows. "
— Ivan, 11/7/2012 -
" This book is extremely weird. The way it depicts the future is rather freaky. Even though its not exact it gets really close to several things, like the tellascreens in all the rooms. It was an interesting read though. "
— Phillip, 10/23/2012 -
" This is a good dystopian novel, and gets at the true nature of totalitarian regimes really well. The ending is quite a doozy. "
— Patrick, 4/3/2012 -
" Outstanding look at bleakness of life without civil liberty "
— Scott, 12/16/2011 -
" Perhaps not a great read, but a seminal work and extremely bleak. "
— David, 10/2/2011 -
" Grim. Much prefer Brave New World. "
— Viv, 6/29/2011 -
" Todo lo que necesito saber sobre la guerra contra el terrorismo ya lo leí hace años en 1984.... Gracias Orwell! "
— Rubio, 5/22/2011 -
" A True Classic. Ahead of it's time in so many ways. "
— Gillian, 5/19/2011 -
" Sólo decir que creo que gracias a que este libro fue publicado, su profecía no se cumplió al 100% "
— Speedy, 5/19/2011 -
" Another classic liberal prep school read. Seems like "Brave New World" is closer to what's happened <br/>but Orwell's fears and warning were well expressed and not to be ignored. Date read is a guess. "
— Chris, 5/19/2011 -
" I read this in middle school and the existential anxiety has been creeping in ever since... "
— Ashley, 5/19/2011 -
" Good read, pretty fast paced except for the end of Part 2, when Winston is reading the exposition on the history of Big Brother... Not quite up there with Animal Farm, but still, it causes you to sit back and wonder just where we currently are on the pendulum of revolution. "
— Matt, 5/18/2011 -
" It still gives me the shivers and I haven't read it in years. "
— Jane, 5/18/2011 -
" Another depressing story about a leader who reminds me of several world leaders. You know their names. "
— Thadd, 5/17/2011 -
" Not a big fan of dystopian novels, but very good read for common culture. "
— Aliisa, 5/17/2011
About George Orwell
George Orwell (1903–1950), the pen name of Eric Arthur Blaire, was an English novelist, poet, essayist, journalist, and literary critic. He is best known for his works of social criticism and opposition to totalitarianism. He also wrote nonfiction about his experiences in the working class and as a solder. His work remains influential in popular culture and in political culture, and the adjective “Orwellian,"describing totalitarian and authoritarian social practices, has become part of the English language. In 2008, the London Times named him the second-greatest British writer since 1945.
About Theo Solomon
Theo Solomon is an Earphones Award–winning narrator who has worked extensively on stage, on screen, and behind the mic. He has performed across London and Nottingham, and his television work includes roles on Temple and Enterprice.