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Why is Orwell's 1984 still relevant today?

On the 70th anniversary of George Orwell's 1984 his son remembers the man behind the book.

It is the 70th anniversary of the publication of arguably the most famous and influential book written in English in the 20th century, 1984. Since it was published on June 8th 1949 it has never been out of print and its ideas are part of political discussions today. Orwell died only a few months after the book was published, leaving behind a book which has captured imaginations decades later and a new term, "Orwellian." He also left behind his adopted son, Richard Blair. He shared his memories of his father with the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ.

Discussing the impact of the book and why sales of the book shot up when Donald Trump was inaugurated as the president of the United States are Professor Jean Seaton of the Orwell Foundation and Dorian Lynskey, author of The Ministry Of Truth, a new book about the afterlife of 1984.

(IMAGE: Silhouette of the statue of writer George Orwell by the artist Martin Jennings, outside Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ New Broadcasting House in London. It is seen here overlooked by CCTV cameras, echoing Orwell's line "Big Brother is watching you" from the novel 1984 CREDIT: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ)

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11 minutes