• 1984

  • New Classic Edition
  • By: George Orwell
  • Narrated by: Simon Prebble
  • Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (56,035 ratings)

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1984  By  cover art

1984

By: George Orwell
Narrated by: Simon Prebble
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Publisher's summary

Blackstone Publishing presents a new recording of this immensely popular book.

One of the most celebrated classics of the twentieth century, Orwell’s cautionary tale of a man trapped under the gaze of an authoritarian state feels more relevant now than ever before.

George Orwell depicts a gray, totalitarian world dominated by Big Brother and its vast network of agents, including the Thought Police, a world in which news is manufactured according to the authorities’ will and people live tepid lives by rote.

Winston Smith, the hero with no heroic qualities, longs only for truth and decency. But living in a social system in which privacy does not exist and where those with unorthodox ideas are brainwashed or put to death, he knows there is no hope for him. He knows even as he continues to pursue his forbidden love affair that eventually he will come to destruction.

The year 1984 has come and gone, yet George Orwell’s nightmare vision in 1949 of the world we were becoming is still the great modern classic of negative Utopia. It is a prophetic and haunting tale that exposes the worst crimes imaginable: the destruction of freedom and truth.

©1949 Harcourt Brace and Company, renewed 1977 Sonia Brownell Orwell (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

  • Nominee, 2008 Audie Award, Classic

"It is probable that no other work of this generation has made us desire freedom more earnestly or loathe tyranny with such fullness." (New York Times, 1949)

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What listeners say about 1984

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Wonderful!

Great story and relevant topic, my only issue is some of the transitions are hard to follow.

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Hope

Make sure to pay attention to the very final chapter. Most people assume that the ending is the one prior to the Newspeak appendix.



Spoilers:

It shows how Big Brother ultimately failed. Newspeak didn’t last and never could. BB couldn’t control human nature.

That’s just my take on it, I could be wrong.

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Prophetic!

This book is especially fitting in our society today. I recommend to anyone willing to think freely.

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Finally listened to this classic!

Here's the thing, everyone knows the general story... but after listening to it here... I'm amazed just at how well this book had aged. Since the book was published in 1949, I thought it would be extremely dated... but it apparently was written in such a way as to permeate the ages. Even having known the general idea of the book (Mass Surveillance, Big Brother, etc), I was still largely entertained by 'how' it was told, and how the protagonist tries to live his life. This is truly a classic. Fun fact that I learned is that George Orwell was clearly anti-totalitarian and anti-communist. But that being said, he was also a strong supporter of Democratic Socialism, and in his other writings seemed to lean towards a democratic, modular, anarcho-syndicalism (Lib Left).

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Purely Mesmerizing!

To think this was written over 70 years ago and it has such a relevance to the world we face. They're already lining up for their daily dose! Thanks for the listen Audible.

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Excellent journey that still holds truth

Well written book with subtleties often seen in today's society and Simon Prebble read it very well, he had me engulfed as if I were inside of the story and being watched as well. highly recommended.

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A Must Read For Those Who Partake In Double Think

Completed the audio version in 3 days. Orwell had a good understanding of ideological possession and this book is a warning to the west. The censorship of anyone's opinion that differs from the mainstream narrative, the attempt at placing people in a hierarchical class structure, forcing class guilt on the masses, the attempt at rewriting history and taking apart the foundation of our country in the name of equity. It is scary this can be attributed to the current state of our own country and western society as a whole.

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well were boned

great story wish it wasnt coming true. it is a book that is emotionally crushing if you pay attention to whats happening in modern politics. yet can help you clarify stuff you didnt even realize

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terrifying

wow! I hadn't read 1984, but have heard references to it and was interested in hearing it. So terrifying and relevant as it is to today's society, it makes one shudder. or at least it made me shudder. I highly recommend it!!

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A must

This book is a must for everyone to read! I wish it was a requirement for all high school students.

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