Interest in George Orwell’s 1984 tends to spike anytime book bans, government overreach, and other dystopian themes make the news. But when Audible released a thrilling new audio dramatization of the classic novel, featuring an A-list cast, cutting-edge sound design, and striking original music, something different happened. It went viral.

Clips of the sinister O’Brien (played by Andrew Scott) torturing poor Winston Smith (Andrew Garfield) made the rounds on BookTok as fans obsessed over hearing the two stars play the shocking scene to the hilt. Could it be that such a trusty old staple of school syllabuses was actually … NSFW?

Such is the power of the audio drama, a format that’s both innovative and nostalgic, bringing in today’s biggest stars and newest technology to push forward an art form that hearkens back to the radio era. Before we had television, not to mention streaming, radio plays leveraged the power of sound to broadcast immersive, compelling audio dramas live across the globe. Famously, Orson Welles’s 1939 War of the Worlds broadcast showcased the medium’s potential by convincing audiences what they were hearing was real. Fast-forward a century past the format's inception, and modern phenomena like spatial audio, scripted podcasting, and online fandoms are driving audio dramas into thrilling new territory.

If you’ve yet to experience an audio drama, classic literature is the perfect place to start. Whether you’re curious about a beloved book’s dramatized interpretation, ready to cross an intimidating classic off your bucket list, or just looking for your next great listen after 1984, these acclaimed audio dramatizations are an excellent way to wade in and discover a treasured work of literature in a whole new way.

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