1984, Chrome Yellow, Brave New World

In 1984 by George Orwell, one of the pivotal paragraphs that captures the essence of the novel is when Winston Smith reflects on the power and control exerted by the Party. This passage illustrates the Party's ability to manipulate reality and shape individual thought:

"Who controls the past controls the future; who controls the present controls the past."

This phrase encapsulates the totalitarian regime's grip on history and truth. By constantly rewriting records and altering facts, the Party ensures that they control not just the narrative of the past, but also how people think and perceive the present and future. It is a chilling depiction of the dangers of unchecked power and the erosion of personal freedom and truth under a totalitarian state.

In Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, ollows Bernard Marx and John the Savage as they grapple with a society that prioritizes comfort and control over freedom and authentic human experience. Through this dystopian lens, Huxley critiques the dangers of a technologically advanced, consumer-driven society that strips away personal freedom and individuality.

Crome Yellow, first novel by Aldous Huxley, published in 1921. The book is a social satire of the British literati in the period following World War I. The book revolves around the hapless love affair of Denis Stone, a sensitive poet, and Anne Wimbush. Anne’s uncle, Henry Wimbush, hosts a party at his country estate, Crome, that brings together a humorous coterie of characters. Aldous Leonard Huxley was an English writer and philosopher. He wrote nearly 50 books—both novels and non-fiction works—as well as wide-ranging essays, narratives, and poems. Born into the prominent Huxley family, he graduated from Balliol College, Oxford, with an undergraduate degree in English literature.

© 2025 Icon Audio Arts (Audiobook): 9781998644421

Release date

Audiobook: 1 February 2025