Books

London: Secker & Warburg, 1949. First Edition. Orwell's towering work of dystopian fiction, the vocabulary of which has become a part of the fabric of our culture. "The title marks the triumph of the totalitarian state. Three superpowers divide the world and conduct sham wars. Newspeak is official, insidious language used to propagate lies. Big Brother polices you through two-way TV in your quarters. Romance is forbidden, sex is a political act. Personal opinion is neutralized by brainwashing. Life is hell. One of the half-dozen most influential novels of the twentieth century" (Barron, Anatomy of Wonder 3-302). Basis for two notable film adaptations: Michael Anderson's 1956 film starring Edmund O'Brien, and the Michael Radford's later picture starring John Hurt and Richard Burton. Fenwick A12a; Connolly 100; Burgess 99. First Impression. Octavo (19cm); jade green cloth, with titles stamped in dark red on spine; red topstain; dustjacket; [5],6-312pp. Gentle sunning and just a hint…

"1984" is a dystopian novel set in a totalitarian society ruled by a party led by the enigmatic figure, Big Brother. The story revolves around Winston Smith, a disillusioned man working for the Party whose job involves altering historical records to align with the Party's propaganda. Winston secretly harbors dissenting thoughts against the oppressive regime and begins a forbidden love affair with Julia, a fellow rebel. As they engage in acts of rebellion and attempt to challenge the Party's control, they are drawn into a web of surveillance, manipulation, and betrayal. The novel explores themes of censorship, surveillance, the nature of truth, the dangers of totalitarianism, and the resilience of the human spirit against oppressive regimes.

The first edition can be identified by the publisher Secker & Warburg and the publication date of 8 June 1949, as well as the absence of a dust jacket that later variation contained. The first edition was published in both RED and GREEN jackets at the same time. It is considered that the red jacket is the more collectible as it was seemingly printed in a smaller quantity than the green jacket.