Brian Eno, Jack Huston and Kate Winslet on The Treat

Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism. The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative. He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination. The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.

In 'Why I Write', George Orwell reflects on his development as a writer, from his early childhood fascination with words and storytelling to his later political writings. The essay outlines four primary motives for writing: sheer egoism, aesthetic enthusiasm, historical impulse, and political purpose. Orwell discusses how these motives influenced his own work, particularly after the Spanish Civil War, which solidified his commitment to writing against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism.