George Orwell: 1984 / Джордж Оруэлл: 1984

"1984" tells the story of Winston Smith, an ordinary man struggling against the overwhelming power of a totalitarian state. Although Smith enjoys brief moments of love and freedom, he is doomed to fail in his battle with the oppressor O'Brien, whose goal is not to destroy him but to make him conform. In the novel's final words, Orwell tells us that Smith "had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother." In this exploration of political corruption, Orwell examines themes of memory, history, truth, identity, and language, which touch upon the deepest philosophical issues of humanity. It is Orwell's ability to combine popular appeal with serious thought, expressed in exceptionally clear English, that ensures "1984" remains one of the enduring masterpieces of the twentieth century.