1984 Audiobook by George Orwell. Read by Derek Jacobi. Abridged

1984 Audiobook by George Orwell. Read by Derek Jacobi. Abridged
Learn to Love Big Brother.
1984 was published in 1949. Its writer, George Orwell was influenced by the murderous totalitarianism of Hitler’s Nazi Germany and Stalin’s Communist Russia. 1984 follows the life of Winston Smith. He’s an ordinary man living in a country where citizen’s life and reality is controlled by the state i.e., Big Brother. The state demands complete obedience and devotion. The country where Mr. Smith dwells, Oceania, is a purgatory, where progress has stopped and history is what the state says it is. 1984 was, is, and will be a warning to all people against leaders and regimes that want ever increasing control over its citizens. You will note some elements of 1984 in your own country or it’s vast influence (Russia, China) or even near completion in other countries (North Korea, Afghanistan).
Ignorance is Strength. Knowledge is Weakness.
George Orwell (1903- 1950) George Orwell is the pseudonym for Eric Blair who was born in India and raised in Suffolk County England known for; Suffolk Pink Apples, UFOs, and Twiggy. Upon graduating, Eric was a policeman in the British Colony of Burma, now Myanmar, which is north of Thailand. Eric then returned to England and began writing as George Orwell while earning a roof over his head as a teacher, bookseller, and free lance journalist. In 1937, while fighting in the trenches during the Spanish Civil War, George Orwell was shot in the throat and eventually returned to England where he was put on trial under the false charge of being a communist agent. During WW2, he was declared unfit for military duty and so continued writing books and essays, primarily about or based on his experiences. He became famous after the war for his book Animal Farm (or as The Who would sing Meet the new boss, same as the old boss)while 1984 was published in 1949, a year before his death from complications of tuberculosis. His tombstone reads, “Here Lies Eric Arthur Blair”. His never-ending message: Beware of Big Brother.
Derek Jacobi (1938 - ) was born in east London known for Jack the Ripper though happily, most residents aren’t rippers (yet). Mr. Jacobi is a respected and renown British theater, television, and movie actor, who has been knighted for his work. His early career in theater had him working under the direction of Lawrence Olivier in Shakespeare plays. On television he is best known for starring in I, Claudius about the Roman Emperor Claudius. Also appearing in I, Claudius are a Star Trek, X-men’s Patrick Stewart, Indiana Jones, Lord of the Rings supporting actor John Rhys-Davies, and Ian Ogilvy who reads the James Bond thriller, From Russia with Love here on Great Books on Tape. Beware of SMERSH!
Go online to see more artwork of Josh Bowe and Otto Dix whose work is shown in the 2nd half of the video.

[@brucevaughn2886]

Wonderful vocal narration of a classic sci-fi warning relevant to every man in every time when freedom and liberty are threatened by those who would subjugate people damming them to subhuman existence.

[@georgepowe4898]

Orwell probably never knew how prophetic the book 1984 would be.
It should have been named 2023 though.
It is a perfect description of America today.

[@zatty232]

A surveillance state dystopia Wasn't really a revolutionary idea back then if you think about it.

[@RuRu-wn3vg]

Thank you

[@applthorn]

Wish they would post the whole recording

[@rogerevans9666]

@56:30 A "versificator" sounds like AI wrote the song?

[@greatbooksontape782]

I listened to that section again. "The song was written without any human intervention, using a versificator." Of course, 1984 was written before Ai existed, but I think you're right. Nice prediction George Orwell!

[@kenspalding676]

9

[@Loobylooto2]

Thank you