Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell
Official Summary George Orwell's 1984 is a defining example of dystopian fiction in that it envisions a future where society is in decline. It is a cautionary tale of a totalitarian government exercising control over society through the use of language manipulation and threat. Orwell struggled with his health while writing the book, but once it was titled and published, it was an immediate success. It received critical acclaim from numerous literary critics, and Winston Churchill even told his physician that he'd read the novel twice. Despite its success, 1984 has also faced criticism. Throughout its publication history, the novel has been banned and legally challenged numerous times for its subversive or ideologically corrupting content. 1984 influenced public thought on governmental power and control as well as the role of truth in politics. There are multiple theories on Orwell's selection of the title 1984. The Last Man in Europe was an early title for the novel, but in