1984 by George Orwell (Book Analysis): Detailed Summary, Analysis and Reading Guide

By Bright Summaries

Unlock the more straightforward side of 1984 with this concise and insightful summary and analysis!

This engaging summary presents an analysis of 1984 by George Orwell, a dystopian novel which presents an uncomfortably realistic portrayal of the future, a future where the government controls everything and residents are kept under constant surveillance. In a society where dissidence is brutally punished and history is altered to suit the State, Winston Smith is one of the few people who still opposes the totalitarian regime which runs the country with an iron fist. The novel, which has been described as a “masterpiece” by The Guardian, was written in 1948 (which is how the title came about: the reversal of the final two digits) and, after it was published the following year, went on not only to become a major success, but also to have a significant influence on the English language. George Orwell was a British writer who was born in British India in 1903. A strong critic of totalitarianism, he has written a number of books denouncing dictatorships, such as that of Stalin in the 20th century. 

Find out everything you need to know about 1984 in a fraction of the time!

This in-depth and informative reading guide brings you:
• A complete plot summary
• Character studies
• Key themes and symbols
• Questions for further reflection

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• Language: English
• Publisher: BrightSummaries.com
• Release date: Dec 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9782806295279

Book preview

English writer

Born in Motihari (British India) in 1903.

Died in London in 1950.

Notable works:

Burmese Days (1934), novel

Homage to Catalonia (1938), non-fiction

Animal Farm (1945), novel

George Orwell (real name Eric Arthur Blair) was an English writer born in Motihari (British India) in 1903. After studying in England, he returned to India and joined the Imperial Police in Burma. He resigned in 1928 and decided to become a writer. He then spent several years drifting from Paris to London, where he lived alongside some of the poorest members of society (Down and Out in Paris and London, 1933). After this, he had several different jobs (bookseller, teacher, columnist) before signing up for the Spanish Civil War against fascism (Homage to Catalonia, 1938).

During the Second World War (1939-1945), he dedicated himself to journalism and wrote some of his most famous novels, including Animal Farm (1945) and 1984 (1949). Orwell died from tuberculosis in London in 1950.

A eulogy for freedom of speech

Genre: futuristic novel

Reference edition: Orwell, G. (2004) 1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four. London: Penguin Classics.

1st edition: 1949

Themes: totalitarianism, politics, freedom, war, utopia, collectivism

Although it may be tempting to think otherwise, 1984 was published not in 1984, but in 1949. It is a