1984

George Orwell

Jan 2007 · Blackstone Audio Inc. · Narrated by Simon Prebble

About this audiobook

Blackstone Publishing presents a new recording of this immensely popular book.

One of the most celebrated classics of the twentieth century, Orwell’s cautionary tale of a man trapped under the gaze of an authoritarian state feels more relevant now than ever before.

George Orwell depicts a gray, totalitarian world dominated by Big Brother and its vast network of agents, including the Thought Police, a world in which news is manufactured according to the authorities’ will and people live tepid lives by rote.

Winston Smith, the hero with no heroic qualities, longs only for truth and decency. But living in a social system in which privacy does not exist and where those with unorthodox ideas are brainwashed or put to death, he knows there is no hope for him. He knows even as he continues to pursue his forbidden love affair that eventually he will come to destruction.

The year 1984 has come and gone, yet George Orwell’s nightmare vision in 1949 of the world we were becoming is still the great modern classic of negative Utopia. It is a prophetic and haunting tale that exposes the worst crimes imaginable: the destruction of freedom and truth.

Ratings and reviews

Great narrator, engaging story, but terrible audio quality. The narrator was spot-on with his slow methodical recounting of events, sometimes startiling with a quick switch to a powerful emotion, and others slowly building for a tense moment. The story does get quite dark at times, so being an audiobook where abuse is regularly shouted at "you", I don't recommend listing if you are in an unhappy place in your personal life.

Even though i felt that it is a bit boring and jarring at times. There's little way to make a totalitarian regime "sexy" and engaging at all times. I like that the book challenges you, the beginning was a bit of a struggle and at times you do indeed feel the sludge of classical writing and this book does indeed show its age. But it is a classic for a reason, so much popular culture and media is still inspired by this work. Do yourself a favor and read this book because it will be relevant for a long time. Be free, while we still can be.

listened to this book mostly on my drive to work and on my lunch breaks. I finished it in about 2 weeks. I have really enjoyed it. I was expecting this book to be a little boring. I was pleasantly surprised. I feel as though the pacing was good and the story was interesting. even when I was only able to listen for 10-15 minutes at a time I felt immersed.

About the author

Eric Arthur Blair (1903-1950), better known by his pen-name, George Orwell, was born in India, where his father worked for the Civil Service. An author and journalist, Orwell was one of the most prominent and influential figures in twentieth-century literature. His unique political allegory Animal Farm was published in 1945, and it was this novel, together with the dystopia of Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), which brought him world-wide fame. His novels and non-fiction include Burmese Days, Down and Out in Paris and London, The Road to Wigan Pier and Homage to Catalonia.

Simon Prebble has worked extensively on British and American television as both actor and narrator.