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[[Image:1984first.jpg|right|thumb|First edition of ''Nineteen Eighty-Four'' published in Britain, 1949.]]

[[Image:1984first.jpg|right|thumb|First edition of ''Nineteen Eighty-Four'' published in Britain, 1949.]]

'''Nineteen Eighty-Four'''<ref>The title is spelled out, in words, in the original 1949 editions, both as published in England by Secker and Warburg[http://catalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=87&ti=76,87&Search%5FArg=Orwell%2C%20George&Search%5FCode=NAME%5F&CNT=25&PID=11284&SEQ=20070323140446&SID=1] and in the United States by Harcourt, Brace[http://catalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=86&ti=76,86&Search%5FArg=Orwell%2C%20George&Search%5FCode=NAME%5F&CNT=25&PID=11284&SEQ=20070323140446&SID=1]. It is sometimes presented numerically, in digits, '''1984,''' in modern reprints and derivative works such as screenplays.</ref> is a novel by [[George Orwell]] in what is now called the [[dystopia]]n genre.  It is generally viewed as a critique of the Soviet regime, but may also be viewed as a criticism of any state where the government has too much control over its citizens.  

'''''Nineteen Eighty-Four'''''<ref>The title is spelled out, in words, in the original 1949 editions, both as published in England by Secker and Warburg[http://catalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=87&ti=76,87&Search%5FArg=Orwell%2C%20George&Search%5FCode=NAME%5F&CNT=25&PID=11284&SEQ=20070323140446&SID=1] and in the United States by Harcourt, Brace[http://catalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=86&ti=76,86&Search%5FArg=Orwell%2C%20George&Search%5FCode=NAME%5F&CNT=25&PID=11284&SEQ=20070323140446&SID=1]. It is sometimes presented numerically, in digits – '''''1984''''', in modern reprints and derivative works such as screenplays.</ref> is a novel by [[George Orwell]] in what is now called the [[dystopia]]n genre.  It is generally viewed as a critique of the Soviet regime, but may also be viewed as a criticism of any state where the government has too much control over its citizens.  

It was originally to be titled "The Last Man in Europe," but the title was changed at the publisher's suggestion. It is often suggested that "eighty-four" is a reversal of "forty-eight," the year in which the book was written, but this has never been confirmed.  

It was originally to be titled ''The Last Man in Europe'', but the title was changed at the publisher's suggestion. It is often suggested that "eighty-four" is a reversal of "forty-eight", the year in which the book was written, but this has never been confirmed.  

Orwell was influenced by Jack London's novel ''The Iron Heel,'' and Yevgeny Zamyatin's ''We.''

Orwell was influenced by Jack London's novel ''The Iron Heel'', and Yevgeny Zamyatin's ''We''.

== Plot Summary ==

== Plot Summary ==

Nineteen Eighty-Four describes an [[alternate history]] in which Oceania (roughly, the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia, and South Africa) is perpetually at war with [[Eurasia]] or Eastasia and allied with the other. The book describes a dystopia where the government monitors and controls nearly all aspects of every individual's life.  

''Nineteen Eighty-Four'' describes an [[alternate history]] in which Oceania (roughly, the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia, and South Africa) is perpetually at war with Eurasia or Eastasia and allied with the other. The book describes a dystopia where the government monitors and controls nearly all aspects of every individual's life.  

The [[protagonist]], Winston Smith, works in the Ministry of Truth, altering records to fit the Party's current view of history. However, Smith grows to gradually disagree with the Party and what it stands for. Eventually, he and his lover Julia are captured by the thought police and tortured to the point where they once again love the party.

The [[protagonist]], Winston Smith, works in the Ministry of Truth, altering records to fit the Party's current view of history. However, Smith gradually grows to disagree with the Party and what it stands for. Eventually, he and his lover Julia are captured by the thought police and tortured to the point where they once again love the party.

Much of the novel is taken up with discussions of the nature of power and societal control, and words and mottos from the novel--"doublethink", "We have always been at war with Eastasia", "the memory hole" and many more--have become standard shorthand in political discussions, while terms such as "[[thought police]]", "Room 101" and "[[Big Brother]]" have entered the language.

Much of the novel is taken up with discussions of the nature of power and societal control, and words and mottos from the novel – "doublethink", "We have always been at war with Eastasia", "the memory hole" and many more – have become standard shorthand in political discussions, while terms such as "thought police", "Room 101" and "[[Big Brother]]" have entered the language.

== Background of Novel ==

== Background of Novel ==