Nineteen Eighty-Four
Critique • Quotes
First editionAlso known as
1984
First publication
1949
Literature form
Novel
Genre
Science fiction, dystopia
Writing language
English
Author's country
England
Length
Approx. 105,000 words
Notable lines
It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.
— First line
On each landing, opposite the lift-shaft, the poster with the enormous face gazed from the wall. It was one of those pictures which are so contrived that the eyes follow you about when you move. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU' the caption beneath it ran.
From where Winston stood it was just possible to read, picked out on its white face in elegant lettering, the three slogans of the Party: WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.
Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.
If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—forever.
The Revolution will be complete when the language is perfect.
"Has it ever occurred to you, Winston, that by the year 2050, at the very latest, not a single human being will be alive who could understand such a conversation as we are having now?"
But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother.
— First line
Critique • Quotes
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