1984

By: George Orwell

Narrated by: Andrew Wincott

Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Big Brother is watching you....

1984 is the year in which it happens. The world is divided into three superstates. In Oceania, the Party’s power is absolute. Every action, word, gesture and thought is monitored under the watchful eye of Big Brother and the Thought Police. In the Ministry of Truth, the Party’s department for propaganda, Winston Smith’s job is to edit the past. Over time, the impulse to escape the machine and live independently takes hold of him and he embarks on a secret and forbidden love affair. As he writes the words ‘DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER’, his personal rebellion begins....

George Orwell’s masterpiece is the definitive dystopian novel and one of the most influential works of the twentieth century.

©1949 George Orwell (P)2015 Canongate Books Ltd

Critic reviews

"I read it again, and again...right up there among my favourite books." (Margaret Atwood, Guardian)

"My favourite book is 1984... More relevant to today than almost any other book that you can think of." (Jo Brand)

"His final masterpiece...enthralling and indispensable for understanding modern history." (New York Review of Books)

A cautionary tale and a great narrator

This book is a great way to avoid totalitarianism. The message is simple, don't lie and speak up when you're pushed too far. The narration is fantastic. I'll be looking for more books read by Mr. Wincott.

Dystopian Future. Or maybe present.

Loved it. Set me thinking on how important language is to us. No just for communication but also for cultural understanding. Narration is exceptional. State sponsored espionage and what it can do to people. Juxtaposing it with current times paints a scary picture. George Orwell is a genius. And a visionary. Classic.

Why did I not read this earlier

What made the experience of listening to Nineteen Eighty-Four the most enjoyable?

The story is just captivating. Decided to pick it up because it is a classic, and I have never read it, and how I regret that.

The story will change, i think, based on your own perception of your life. It is a story that is just complete, and well written.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Winston Smith. The way he rebels knowing he will (probably) get caught, but not realising the extend of cruelty the system is based on.

He works with great enthusiasm in rewriting history, and yet does all he can to resist the impact wanted by the rewriting.

Which character – as performed by Andrew Wincott – was your favorite?

O'Brien. He does all the characters really well, but here he really nails it. The fatherly old, evil, man who really believes all his ramblings and believes doublespeak. The dialogue about levitation is incredible, and if you are new to the story look forward to this.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The last reaction of Winston Smith moved me deeply.

Animated performance

This is the most textured and engaging audiobook reading I’ve ever heard. The narrator is incredible. Breathes life and voice into both the characters and narrative. If 1984 has been on your bucket, pull the trigger. This reading will ensure you tick it off within a week.

Absolutely stellar!

The narration is one of the best out there, the novel self evidently good. A profound and beautiful masterpiece.

A must read and highly recommended

Narrator is among the best I've heard.
Easy (and scary) to see many of the similar techniques and thoughts being set into action in our times. (2021)

Excellent performance for a dystopian future

Really enjoyed listening to this book. The narattor is one of the best i have heard and the story itself is very well written.

Wincott does an exceptional work.

Must read book and should be there in your library always. It certainly is a classic. What makes it more special his wincott's narration. You can literally experience the fear of the author. The book is timeless because how Orwell predicted it in 1949 and the same can be seen happening now. State surveillance.

Great book - great narrator

The book itself is a classic but the narrator made it a perfect listening experience - thanks👍

Double Plus Good Bellyfeel Crime think

A classic. A cautionary tale of a totalitarian future, what it means to be human and an exploration of the tenuous nature we have with concepts like truth, reality and the past.