Julia: A Novel

Written by Sandra Newman

Narrated by Louise Brealey

A PEOPLE Magazine Must-Read Book for Fall 2023 | An Esquire Best Book of Fall 2023 | A Guardian Biggest New Book of 2023 | A LitHub Most Anticipated Book of 2023

An imaginative, feminist, and brilliantly relevant-to-today retelling of Orwell’s 1984, from the point of view of Winston Smith’s lover, Julia, by critically acclaimed novelist Sandra Newman.

Julia Worthing is a mechanic, working in the Fiction Department at the Ministry of Truth. It’s 1984, and Britain (now called Airstrip One) has long been absorbed into the larger trans-Atlantic nation of Oceania. Oceania has been at war for as long as anyone can remember, and is ruled by an ultra-totalitarian Party, whose leader is a quasi-mythical figure called Big Brother. In short, everything about this world is as it is in Orwell’s 1984.

All her life, Julia has known only Oceania, and, until she meets Winston Smith, she has never imagined anything else. She is an ideal citizen: cheerfully cynical, always ready with a bribe, piously repeating every political slogan while believing in nothing. She routinely breaks the rules, but also collaborates with the regime when necessary. Everyone likes Julia.

Then one day she finds herself walking toward Winston Smith in a corridor and impulsively slips him a note, setting in motion the devastating, unforgettable events of the classic story. Julia takes us on a surprising journey through Orwell’s now-iconic dystopia, with twists that reveal unexpected sides not only to Julia, but to other familiar figures in the 1984 universe. This unique perspective lays bare our own world in haunting and provocative ways, just as the original did almost seventy-five years ago.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Oct 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9780063265363

Sandra Newman

Sandra Newman is the author of the novels The Men, The Heavens (a New York Times Notable Book of the Year), and The Country of Ice Cream Star, longlisted for the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction and named one of the best books of the year by the Washington Post and NPR, as well as several other works of fiction and nonfiction. Her writing has appeared in Harper’s and Granta, among other publications. She lives in New York City.

Reviews for Julia

[ALAN W MORRISON · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Incredibly boring. Abandoned.
1 6 s 4 3 2 1

[Jeweling Rows · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Reminiscent of Ayn Rand's engaging writing a retelling of George Orwell's 1984, from Julia's POV. It's been since 1984, (no kidding) since I held a copy of 1984. My high school did the play when I was a freshman. We all had copies and I read at an audition. I didn't get a part, so aside from a brief reading I'd largely forgotten the finer points. As I listened to Julia, I started recognizing the story, and fell deeply absorbed, listening to it at bedtime. I lost track of events falling asleep, but was so interested, I'd go back to something I remembered, to get back on the storyline. The scene of the flooded bathroom was grisly and the telling of it was in Technicolor. Other times Julia just seemed neurotic, but as the puzzle of her life came to a linear focus of what she'd experienced, her character became more lifelike. I constantly imagined myself in some of the situations, thinking how I'd handle the event, which is not something I usually do. Julia proves herself to be resilient and long suffering. The situation in which she encounters a love interest, had a neat little twist, a great CYA moment. Enjoyable characters on the good guys' side, and dastardly blackhearted villainous minions of Hell on the other, but where does Julia belong?Angel or fallen angel? Heroine, victim, martyr or tragic heroine? No spoilers here, but she definitely moves through an Odyssey, richly keeping the listener questioning and engaged. And just when you think it's over, a scene that would surely win a nod of approval from Stephen King. Still not over Julia's adventure takes an unexpected twist... But is it a new beginning, a fantasy, or nightmare? Salvation or a catch-22? I must say this is the best novel I've read in a long time and I will reread it to savor every nuance that I didn't fully appreciate on a first read.

[jwbatson · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Clever concept but doesn’t do justice tribute to the original work as it might have. Good speculative fiction and interesting, multi-dimensional characters. The Love scene was anguish to get through and the ending was rather oblique. Glad to have experienced this novel.

[Jen Post · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Could not even finish it. Made it through 17 chapters and finally gave in. If this is suppose to be the retelling of Orwell’s 1984 they failed.

I’m a fan of classic literature and sci-if so I was excited about the book. Slowwwwwwwww plot development, filled sex, lacks strong character development, a waste of several hours.

[Linda O'Donnell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

If a retelling of classic novels is in your wheelhouse, Sandra Newman's "Julia" will not disappoint. It begins simply enough, describing the initial meeting between Julia and Winston Smith, showing her at work in the Fiction department of the Ministry of Truth. While outwardly acting the ideal citizen of Big Brother's dystopian society, Julia hides her joyful sexuality behind the red sash of the Anti-Sex League, uses the Black Market to supplement her needs, and hides her laughter at the spectacle of the Two-Minute Hates while enthusiastically taking part. Flashbacks to Julia's childhood add the depth and dimension to her character that effectively helps explain her ability to navigate through the Party's requirements, seemingly at will. Her sexual manipulation of the men from Records is disturbing, especially as she cleverly schemes to provide the scenarios she believes the ever-present watchers will appreciate. The book is not for the faint of heart. Gruesome scenes of Julia's torture after her surprise arrest are described in vivid detail. The appearance of "Icy" Winters provides an interesting way to enlighten Julia of the facts behind her arrest. Winter's tip about Room 101, "run out the clock," also provides the key for Julia's survival. The novel's ending is in keeping with Orwell's version, but the bitter twist comes as a shock, although it is clear in retrospect that Newman's forewarning has been present all along. What a clever and revealing retelling!