Isaac Asimov's 1980 Critique of George Orwell's Novel 1984
By
doruk101
3mo ago· 28 min readenReview
90/100
Golden Brown
Bagelometer↗
Crisp on the outside, thoughtful on the inside. A keeper.
Score90TypereviewSentimentneutral
Summary
Isaac Asimov recounts being asked by Field Newspaper Syndicate in 1980 to write a critique of George Orwell's novel '1984' as the actual year approached. Initially reluctant due to having forgotten most of the book, Asimov was persuaded to re-read it and was astonished by what he discovered. He questions how many people who discuss the novel have actually read it or remember it accurately, and feels compelled to write the critique to 'set people straight' about the book's actual content and meaning.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledI was reluctant. I remembered almost nothing of the book and said so - but Denison Demac, the lovely young woman who is my contact at FNS, simply sent me a copy of it and said, 'Read it.'
So I read it and found myself absolutely astonished at what I read. I wondered how many people who talked about the novel so glibly had ever read it; or if they had, whether they remembered it at all.
I felt I would have to write the critique if only to set people straight. (I'm sorry; I love setting people straight.)
I've been writing a four-part article for Field Newspaper Syndicate at the
beginning of each year for several years now and in 1980, mindful of the
approach of the year 1984, FNS asked me to write a thorough critique of
George Orwell's novel 1984.
I wa
