1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four

One of the BBC's '100 Novels That Shaped Our World'. HarperCollins is proud to present our range of timeless literary classics.

Big Brother is Watching You

Winston Smith rewrites history. Itâs his job. Hidden away in the Records Department of the sprawling Ministry of Truth, he helps the Party and the omnipresent Big Brother control the people of Oceania. But the notebook heâs begun to write in is against the rules â" in fact, the Thought Police could arrest him simply for having it. Despite the danger, a seed of rebellion has begun to grow in Winstonâs heart â" one that could have devastating consequences.

In George Orwellâs final novel, he explores a dystopian future in which a totalitarian government controls the actions, thoughts and even emotions of its citizens. Its lasting popularity is testament to Orwellâs powerful prose, and is a passionate warning for today.