Books

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 of foxing to upper and lower board edges, subtle fading to topstain, though text is fresh and free of foxing; Near Fine. In the green variant dustjacket, unclipped (priced 10s. net), showing light wear to extremities, joints, and spine ends, with a few tiny nicks and closed tears, a hint of foxing on verso, and a small loss to upper rear panel preserved and neatly laid in; a Very Good+ example, strong in color. Housed in a custom half-morocco slipcase and chemise. 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.

"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.