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Nineteen Eighty-Four

Penguin Modern Classics

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Nineteen Eighty-Four

By: George Orwell
Narrated by: Peter Capaldi
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

'Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.'

Hidden away in the Record Department of the sprawling Ministry of Truth, Winston Smith skilfully rewrites the past to suit the needs of the Party.

Yet he inwardly rebels against the totalitarian world he lives in, which demands absolute obedience and controls him through the all-seeing telescreens and the watchful eye of Big Brother, symbolic head of the Party.

In his longing for truth and liberty, Smith begins a secret love affair with a fellow worker, Julia, but soon discovers the true price of freedom is betrayal.

Public Domain (P)2019 Penguin Books Ltd Classics Dystopian Science Fiction Fiction Freedom

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All stars
Most relevant
One of my all time favourite books, and the narration takes it to another level! There’s something about Capaldi’s voice that suits Winston so well - would gladly listen on repeat.

Brilliant, Brilliant, Brillianf

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A must read. A terrifying and grim example of what is possible when speech and thought are controlled via legislation and threat. In our own society these messages are certainly relatable given the extreme views of the political far left activists and the same on the far right, with the left being far more prevalent today in the West. It makes this reader appreciate that we do live in the fairest society the world has ever known and we should aim to keep it as such.

An increasingly important book

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Capaldi delivers a brilliant and intense telling of a classic novel. My favourite audiobook version.

A classic brilliantly performed

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Peter Capaldi reads Orwell's intense and harrowing novel so well, and with so much passion, feeling and intelligence, that the listening often becomes unbearable and one needs a break from the relentless darkness, pain and horror, especially in Part Three. Orwell is a superb writer, which is why this is a very powerful and worthwhile read/listen, even if his vision and ideas are at times so extreme and monochrome as to become unbelievable and almost tedious.

Disturbing Listen and Lesson

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Last time I read this book was in 1984 so revisiting it has been very worthwhile. Regardless of where you sit on the political spectrum, I’d encourage you to listen or read 1984.

It is an outstanding book.



The reading of Capaldi is superb and stood out when I compared it to samples by other readers.

An important book and an excellent reading

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