Published in 1949, George Orwell’s famous dystopian novel, 1984, is one of the most important books of the 20th century, still widely referenced today across politics and culture.
Orwell modelled his authoritarian state in the novel on the Soviet Union in the era of Stalinism and on Nazi Germany. Dealing with themes of totalitarianism, mass surveillance and more broadly with the role of truth within society, this book is arguably the most influential piece of political and dystopian fiction in the modern era.
Inspiring the likes of Margaret Atwood and Haruki Murakami, 1984’s vast impact still endures today and, with increasing surveillance, state-sponsored propaganda and threats to free speech in the real world today, it feels more relevant than ever.
Join us for a discussion about this book’s huge legacy and what George Orwell would think about the state of today’s world.
