1984

1984 is a political and dystopian science-fiction novel set in Airstrip One, a province of the superstate Oceania. It is a mind-numbing world which in a state of perpetual war, omnipresent government surveillance and public manipulation. Dictated by a political system, called Ingsoc, the lives of its people is under the control of privileged elite of the "Inner Party" which persecutes individualism and independent thinking as "thought crime." Due to the novel's huge popularity, many of its terms and concepts, such as Big Brother, doublethink, thoughtcrime, Newspeak, Room 101, telescreen, 2 + 2 = 5, and memory hole, have entered into common use since its publication in 1949. It has also popularised the adjective "Orwellian", which describes official deception, secret surveillance, and manipulation of recorded history by a totalitarian or authoritarian state. George Orwell (1903-1950) whose real name was Eric Arthur Blair was an English novelist, essayist, journalist and critic. His work is marked by lucid prose, awareness of social injustice, opposition to totalitarianism, and outspoken support of democratic socialism.

George Orwell, the pen name of Eric Arthur Blair, is an iconic figure in the annals of English literature, renowned for his profound contributions that delve into themes of totalitarianism, social injustice, and the nuanced interplay between truth and propaganda. Born on June 25, 1903, in Motihari, British India, Orwell's body of work encapsulates an array of literary forms, including essays, novels, and commentary. Amongst his most seminal works, '1984' (1949) stands as a towering testament to his prescient vision of a dystopian future where an omnipresent government exerts totalitarian control and exercises power through manipulation, surveillance, and the revision of history. This masterpiece illustrates not only his literary prowess but also his unwavering commitment to scrutinizing and critiquing the sociopolitical fabric of his time. Orwell's stark, lucid prose style and the keen foresight displayed in '1984' have secured his status as a vanguard in the realm of political satire and dystopian fiction, influencing a slew of writers and thinkers in the generations that followed. Orwell's work remains eternally relevant, a stark reminder of the fragility of freedom in the face of authoritarianism, ushering readers towards a vigilant and critical examination of the socio-political realities that envelop them.