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Synopsis
Nineteen Eighty-Four: A Novel, often referred to as 1984, is a dystopian social science fiction novel by the English novelist George Orwell (the pen name of Eric Arthur Blair). It was published on 8 June 1949 by Secker & Warburg as Orwell's ninth and final book completed in his lifetime. Thematically, Nineteen Eighty-Four centres on the consequences of totalitarianism, mass surveillance, and repressive regimentation of persons and behaviours within society. Orwell, himself a democratic socialist, modelled the authoritarian government in the novel after Stalinist Russia. More broadly, the novel examines the role of truth and facts within politics and the ways in which they are manipulated.
Is Nineteen Eighty-Four appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 16 and up.
Contains disturbing themes of totalitarian control, psychological torture, surveillance, and the manipulation of truth. Includes moderate violence, torture scenes, and brief sexual content. Heavy thematic material about dehumanization and loss of freedom.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, mild sexual content, and moderate language. Content notes include torture, graphic violence, and emotional abuse (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens will find a chilling warning about government overreach and the importance of freedom, truth, and independent thought in a controlled society.