From the author of the definitive biography of George Orwell, a
captivating account of the origin and enduring power of his landmark
dystopian novel
Since its publication nearly 70 years ago, George Orwell's 1984 has
been regarded as one of the most influential novels of the modern age.
Politicians have testified to its influence on their intellectual
identities, rock musicians have made records about it, TV viewers watch
a reality show named for it, and a White House spokesperson tells of
"alternative facts." The world we live in is often described as an
Orwellian one, awash in inescapable surveillance and invasions of
privacy.
On 1984 dives deep into Orwell's life to chart his earlier writings
and key moments in his youth, such as his years at a boarding school,
whose strict and charismatic headmaster shaped the idea of Big Brother.
Taylor tells the story of the writing of the book, taking readers to the
Scottish island of Jura, where Orwell, newly famous thanks to Animal
Farm but coping with personal tragedy and rapidly declining health,
struggled to finish 1984. Published during the cold war--a term Orwell
coined--Taylor elucidates the environmental influences on the book. Then
he examines 1984's post-publication life, including its role as a tool
to understand our language, politics, and government.
In a current climate where truth, surveillance, censorship, and critical
thinking are contentious, Orwell's work is necessary. Written with
resonant and reflective analysis, On 1984 is both brilliant and
remarkably timely.
