In 1984, Winston Smith lives in London which is part of the country Oceania. The world is divided into three countries that include the entire globe: Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia. Oceania, and both of the others, is a totalitarian society led by Big Brother, which censors everyone’s behavior, even their thoughts. Winston is disgusted with his oppressed life and secretly longs to join the fabled Brotherhood, a supposed group of underground rebels intent on overthrowing the government. Winston meets Julia and they secretly fall in love and have an affair, something which is considered a crime. One day, while walking home, Winston encounters O’Brian, an inner party member, who gives Winston his address. Winston had exchanged glances with O’Brian before and had dreams about him giving him the impression that O’Brian was a member of the Brotherhood. Since Julia hated the party as much as Winston did, they went to O’Brian’s house together where they were introduced into the Brotherhood. O’Brian is actually a faithful member of the Inner-Party and this is actually a trap for Winston, a trap that O’Brian has been cleverly setting for seven years. Winston and Julia are sent to the Ministry of Love which is a sort of rehabilitation center for criminals accused of thought crime. There, Winston was separated from Julia, and tortured until his beliefs coincided with those of the Party. Winston denounces everything he believed him, even his love for Julia, and was released back into the public where he wastes his days at the Chestnut Tree drinking gin. (Summary Central)
I am fortunate to have a First American Edition Published by Harcourt, Brace and Company (New York) on 13 June 1949. It is missing it's dust jacket and has a little damage. I first read this in ninth grade and then again in high school. It has been on my TBR again list for ages. My grandmother gave this to me the year I was home sick from school for nine weeks. It never made it back to her house.
Vicki of Reading At The Beach hosts A-Z Wednesday, this round is author's names and this week's letter is "O".
10 comments:
What a very cool addition to your bookshelves! I read 1984 years and years ago.
How awesome to have that edition. 1984 is one of my favorite books!
I read it long time back. Before 1984!
Gotta re-read it...
Great review. Will check it out!
Here is my O Author post!
I read this one so long ago (back when the ideas seemed almost unlikely!), but how great to have a first edition.
Thanks for sharing.
Here's mine:
http://snowconnections.wordpress.com/2010/11/17/a-z-wednesday-nov-17/
I just answered a trivia question about this book, which was part of an Amazon scandal a few years back.
http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/2010/11/to-z-starts-with-o.html
That brings back a lot of memories! Read 1984 back in high school (many moons ago!). Here's mine: http://myreadersblock.blogspot.com/2010/11/z-wednesday-letter-o.html
I'm truly embarrassed to admit that I have yet to read this one!
I have not have the pleasure of reading a George Orwell book.
This one sounds interesting.
Since I am convinced the governmant is shady, I have to read this. I am ashamed to say I haven't. A perfect complement to the Handmaid's Tale for sure. Thanks for the reminder Nise.
How sad is it that I've not read this yet?
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