Nineteen Eighty-Four

By: George Orwell

Narrated by: Tim Pigott-Smith

Winston Smith works for the Ministry of Truth in London, chief city of Airstrip One. Big Brother stares out from every poster and the Thought Police uncover each act of betrayal. When Winston finds love with Julia, he discovers that life does not have to be dull and deadening and awakens to new possibilities. Despite the police helicopters that hover and circle overhead, Winston and Julia begin to question the Party.

Yet Big Brother will not tolerate dissent - even in the mind. For those with original thoughts they invented Room 101....

Nineteen Eighty-Four is George Orwell's terrifying vision of a totalitarian future in which everything and everyone is slave to a tyrannical regime. Christopher Eccleston, Tim Pigott-Smith and Pippa Nixon star in this new drama, part of BBC Radio 4's The Real George Orwell season - a Radio 4 journey that explores the disjuncture between the man who was Eric Blair and the writer who was George Orwell.

©2013 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2013 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

I loved it

Wonderful dramatization of a classic book. It really brought the story to life in ways I haven’t heard or seen before. I’d highly recommend it to everyone.

Too abridged, not worth it.

The acting was good and the background sound effects were great. They just cut out too much for my taste. 3/4 of the book went into the memory hole.

Terrifying

Exceedingly well adapted and acted. Immersive and terrifying soundscape and music. Still holds up after all this time

Ok story and performance.

For a dramatized piece, the iDisk issues arose - sound was hard to hear in some areas.
It was ok however I think the story is a little too unrealistic - other big brother stories are a bit better, but as a classic, worth the listen.

Terrifying and Heartbreaking

I love Christopher's voice! he's supper talented.
what a chilling, well told tale full of vivid imagery.

Good, but I prefer books read instead of dramatizd

The story and performance are both good. But I think I'd prefer to listen to the book read, not performed. I chose the dramatization because I didn't find the book simply read.

More like an audio play!

Disappointed because it was more like an old audio play (think 1940’s radio serial) than an audio book.

couldn't understand a lot of the accents

accents are fine if you're a Brit I guess. story is extremely abbreviated, misses a lot of the detail of the book. didn't really care for it. three stars is generous.

great performance, not what I was looking fir

I couldn't get past the first few minutes. I was expecting a book to be read, but this is like a live action radio play.

Perfect for the current times

It's time to study up on stories of the past. It is our present and the first time we heard of "alternative facts".