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1984 Mass market paperbound - 1950
by George Orwell; Designed by Walter Cronkite
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About this book
Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984) by George
Orwell has become the definitive dystopian novel of the twentieth
century.
Originally published on June 8, 1949 by Secker and Warburg in the United Kingdom, the book follows the main character, Winston Smith, through his disillusionment with totalitarianism and a doomed struggle of resistance. George Orwell is a pen-name, Orwell's real name was Eric Blair.
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Originally published on June 8, 1949 by Secker and Warburg in the United Kingdom, the book follows the main character, Winston Smith, through his disillusionment with totalitarianism and a doomed struggle of resistance. George Orwell is a pen-name, Orwell's real name was Eric Blair.
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Reader reviews for 1984
Review summary
Readers widely describe Orwell’s novel as a seminal, chilling portrait of totalitarianism whose ideas—surveillance, doublethink, and the weaponization of language—feel uncannily timely. Many praise its rigorous world-building and the emotional punch of Winston and Julia’s doomed defiance, calling it mind-altering and essential. Detractors cite the didactic, essay-like middle section and thin characterisation, with some finding it slow, bleak, or misogynistic. Even so, consensus holds that its influence and relevance endure, often pairing it with Brave New World and Fahrenheit 451 as core dystopian reading.
Readers say this book is:
chillingprophetictimelythought-provokingbleakdensedidacticseminalemotionally devastatingmust-readWrite a review for this book
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First edition identification
The overall quality of the printing of this first edition is high. Some commonly found defects include missing plates, damage to the frontispiece or endpapers, and age-tanned pages. Blair died six months after publication of this, his last novel. Very rare signed copies have significant value, with some volumes priced near $10,000 USD. Because of this, numerous attempts have been made at forging the author's signature, and care should be taken to authenticate a signed copy. Unsigned first-edition first-printing British editions in mint condition can sometimes be priced in the $2,000 to $3,000 range (USD).
The first US edition was printed by Harcourt, Brace and Company in 1949, only five days after the U.K. Edition. The UK edition first printing ran 26,575 copies, the US edition approximately 20,000. The book was an instant best seller in both Great Britain and the United States.
The first US edition was printed by Harcourt, Brace and Company in 1949, only five days after the U.K. Edition. The UK edition first printing ran 26,575 copies, the US edition approximately 20,000. The book was an instant best seller in both Great Britain and the United States.
Details
- Title 1984
- Author George Orwell; Designed by Walter Cronkite
- Binding Mass Market Paperbound
- Edition [ Edition: repri
- Pages 247
- Volumes 1
- Language ENG
- Publisher Signet Classics, New York, NY, U.S.A.
- Publication date 1950-07-01
- ISBN 9780451521231 / 0451521234
- Weight 0.32 lbs (0.15 kg)
- Reading level 900
- Category Literature - Classics / Criticism
- Dewey Decimal Code FIC
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Nineteen Eighty-Four
by Orwell, George
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- 9780451521231 / 0451521234
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