1984

New Classic Edition

By: George Orwell

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins

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)

Enduring Classic

I found the reading of 1984 by Simon Prebble to be one of the best narrative's I have ever listened to -- he makes all of the characters come to life and breaths a fantastic 'theater of the mind' experience that could only be rivaled by actually 'reading' the book. The story is as contemporary today, if not more so, as it was when it was first written over 60 years ago. Dark, fascinating, scary, and incredibly entertaining. I highly recommend. Enjoy!

We are almost living this....

I have read this book many times, and never grow weary of the warning contained within, nor the imagination and delicious turn of phrase presented by Orwell. In fact, I have read the complete works of George Orwell, and find this dystopian deep dive to be his finest work. From the first passages the listener is thrust into a bleak universe that is now becoming imaginable. The narration of this audio book is superb, making it that much more interesting and entertaining. Doubleplusgood indeed!

1984 is now

Where does 1984 rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

About one of the best ive listen to.

What did you like best about this story?

I like how the story, although about a future time, applies to today.

What does Simon Prebble bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The performance was great. Even taking on female personal with professional ability.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

1984 is Now.

Any additional comments?

Of course you have heard of this book, or read it. Read it now (or listen) Now you are older and it will make more sense. I listened twice to make sure i got it all. There is much there.

This needs to be studied and warded against.

Brilliant and thought provoking. We are seeing this play out right now. The dialog can put you to sleep, but fight against the urge, because if you listen it will wake you up.

I own nearly 200 audiobooks...

And still after 5 or 6 listen's it is the best of them all. Absolutely us an audible essential.

Absolutely Required Re-read/re-listen

I have not read this book since high school. Listening to 1984as and adult & in our current time should be required by all US citizens living in the time of Trump

Timely Classic

I pretended to read this as assigned in high school, 1973. I read it in 1984, with a mind of comparing Orwellian prophecy with current events, but found it largely unlikely, preposterous. Reading it now, though, I realize that Orwell’s only mistake was being off by 30 years. This is the Progressive promise in action.

Required Reading

What are you waiting for, download now! You will be surprised to find how close George Orwell has nailed what could result from certain ideologies, and you can see the evidence around you now of it happening.

Still relevant after all these years

This is my very first review of an audiobook. I needed to write a review and say how great this reading is. I have read this book before and while it was an enthralling read, nothing compares to this audiobook. I agree with others that Simon Prebble adds a fantastic level of eeriness to the story. You are taken to this bleak and dark future of humanity. An excellent cross over between science fiction and political science. I am just as afraid of the possibility of this future as readers were sixty years ago. Don't stick your head down a memory hole -- remember this visionary tale when you see the parallels in today's global societies.

Bone-chilling story

This has quickly become one of my favorite books. Although 1984 has long passed, Orwell's story still holds its original value. Prebble's performance was marvelous and added to the suspense.