Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984)

Eric Arthur Blair (1903-1950), better known by his pen-name, George Orwell, was born in India, where his father worked for the Civil Service. An author and journalist, Orwell was one of the most prominent and influential figures in twentieth-century literature. His unique political allegory Animal Farm was published in 1945, and it was this novel, together with the dystopia of Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), which brought him world-wide fame. His novels and non-fiction include Burmese Days, Down and Out in Paris and London, The Road to Wigan Pier and Homage to Catalonia.

His final masterpiece. Enthralling and indispensible for understanding modern history Timothy Garton Ash Right up there among my favourite books ... I read it again and again Margaret Atwood More relevant to today than almost any other book that you can think of Jo Brand One of the most shocking novels of the twentieth century Margaret Drabble The book of the twentieth century Ben Pimlott