Orwell, 1984, etc.

Cambridge Forum is pleased to mark the 75th anniversary of the publication of Nineteen Eighty-Four in 1949, with an in-depth discussion about George Orwell’s life, work and legacy.

Written at a time when Orwell was seriously ill, “1984” had a dubious beginning with few interested in publishing it, yet it went on to become a classic literary example of political and dystopian fiction. Its themes struck a chord with readers worldwide due to its focus on the consequences of totalitarianism, mass surveillance and repression, which have remained timeless. The novel, which was Orwell’s final book, examines the role of truth and facts within society and the ways in which they can be manipulated, hence the creation of the term “Orwellian”. But although we know George Orwell the author, who was Eric Blair, the man?

Speakers

Dorian Lynskey

Dorian Lynskey writes about politics and culture for numerous publications. He is author of The Ministry of Truth: A Biography of George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, which was longlisted for the Orwell and Baillie Gifford prizes. Lynskey’s latest book is Everything Must Go: The Stories We Tell About the End of the World; he also hosts the podcasts Origin Story and Oh God, What Now?

Nathan Waddell

Nathan Waddell is Professor of Twentieth-Century Literature at the University of Birmingham, UK where he has written widely on George Orwell and produces the Reading Orwell podcast. He edited The Cambridge Companion to Nineteen Eighty-Four, and has two books coming out in 2025, The Oxford Handbook of George Orwell and A Bright Cold Day: The Wonder of George Orwell.