I first read 1984 as part of my degree for an exam on a politics module. It instantly gripped me and I have read it many times over the following years.
George Orwell’s story of Winston Smith and his rebellion against the Party, love affair with Julia and subsequent capture, torture and re-education at the hands of O’Brien at the Miniluv is a smashing indictment of the Soviet Union under Stalin.
From the use of technology to carry out surveillance of the citizens of Oceania, censorship, New-Speak, Big Brother and Room 101, Orwell’s classic novel continues to make itself felt today.
The most fascinating aspect for me was the control of the past, made possible by Winston and others at the Minitru in the Minirec department where time was spent altering historical details of archival material to match with current thought.
While not linked to my work per se, 1984 has always reminded me of how I ended up where I am now. It was the audiobook I listened to most frequently while doing data-entry in my first job before deciding to take the plunge and go back to university do my master’s in museum studies.
Adam Walsh is the deputy curator (documentation) at the Royal Engineers Museum, Library & Archive in Gillingham, Kent
George Orwell’s story of Winston Smith and his rebellion against the Party, love affair with Julia and subsequent capture, torture and re-education at the hands of O’Brien at the Miniluv is a smashing indictment of the Soviet Union under Stalin.
From the use of technology to carry out surveillance of the citizens of Oceania, censorship, New-Speak, Big Brother and Room 101, Orwell’s classic novel continues to make itself felt today.
The most fascinating aspect for me was the control of the past, made possible by Winston and others at the Minitru in the Minirec department where time was spent altering historical details of archival material to match with current thought.
While not linked to my work per se, 1984 has always reminded me of how I ended up where I am now. It was the audiobook I listened to most frequently while doing data-entry in my first job before deciding to take the plunge and go back to university do my master’s in museum studies.
Adam Walsh is the deputy curator (documentation) at the Royal Engineers Museum, Library & Archive in Gillingham, Kent
