1984 by George Orwell, published in 1949, is a dystopian novel set in a totalitarian society controlled by the Party, led by the mysterious figurehead Big Brother. The protagonist, Winston Smith, works at the Ministry of Truth, where he alters historical records to align with the Party’s propaganda. He secretly despises the oppressive regime and begins a forbidden affair with Julia, a fellow Party member. They are eventually captured by the Thought Police, and Winston is tortured and brainwashed by O’Brien, a Party official, until he fully submits to the Party’s ideology. The novel explores themes of surveillance, censorship, mind control, and the manipulation of truth.
