George Orwell, Animal farm, Nineteen eighty-four

In this Readers' Guide, Daniel Lea takes a decisive path through the maze of interpretations that has accumulated around Orwell's best-known novels, examining critical reactions from the beginning of the Cold War through to the collapse of Communist Eastern Europe, and at the same time placing Orwell within a long tradition of dystopian writings.

In exploring the artistic, cultural and social contexts of Orwell's work, it is an essential resource for students and general readers alike.