"Rich and compelling. . .Lynskey’s account of the reach of 1984 is revelatory.” --George Packer, The Atlantic An authoritative, wide-ranging, and incredibly timely history of 1984--its literary sources, its composition by Orwell, its deep and lasting effect on the Cold War, and its vast influence throughout world culture at every level, from high to pop. 1984 isn't just a novel; it's a key to understanding the modern world. George Orwell's final work is a treasure chest of ideas and memes--Big Brother, the Thought Police, Doublethink, Newspeak, 2+2=5--that gain potency with every year. Particularly in 2016, when the election of Donald Trump made it a bestseller ("Ministry of Alternative Facts," anyone?). Its influence has morphed endlessly into novels (The Handmaid's Tale), films (Brazil), television shows (V for Vendetta), rock albums (Diamond Dogs), commercials (Apple), even reality TV (Big Brother). The Ministry of Truth is the first book that fully examines the epochal and cultural event that is 1984 in all its aspects: its roots in the utopian and dystopian literature that preceded it; the personal experiences in wartime Great Britain that Orwell drew on as he struggled to finish his masterpiece in his dying days; and the political and cultural phenomena that the novel ignited at once upon publication and that far from subsiding, have only grown over the decades. It explains how fiction history informs fiction and how fiction explains history.

With an Introduction and Notes by John M.L. Drew, University of Buckingham.

Still rattled from his battle with Basil Hallward, Dorian Gray struggles on regaining his confidence on continuing his fight with the Morbi. But when his great-grandfather, Dorian Gray I, escapes from the painting, Dorian must go on a harrowing journey where he’ll uncover the secrets to his past that will change his life forever.

Takes both subject and style seriously. This title features the locations, characters, plot and epigrams transposed from the 1890s to the 1990s.

From the Shadow is the story of a country boy who endured a series of tragic events, leaving him alone in a big city. The cruel hand of fate had one more blow: a young offenders’ institution. There, in his darkest hour, it would be the bars he lifted, not those that bound him, which would finally change the trajectory of his life forever. Dorian’s disarming honesty would lead to a reader of an early manuscript saying of From the Shadow: “I had to force myself to put it down—the thought of finishing it, of the most real thing I’d ever read coming to an end, was unbearable.” Dorian Yates is a six-time winner of the world’s premier bodybuilding competition, Mr. Olympia, and, more recently, has become an internet guru too, known to many new admirers as the Legend. Originally from England, he now lives in southern Spain with his Brazilian-born wife, Gal Ferreira Yates. Dorian has two children—a son, Lewis, and a daughter, Tahnee, both from his first marriage.

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format. In CliffsNotes on The Picture of Dorian Gray, you explore Oscar Wilde’s great works about narcissism, rife with symbolism and classic themes. Here, you meet Dorian Gray and discover his secret pact with the devil to stay young and handsome, and the subsequent destruction of his soul. This study guide carefully walks you through Dorian’s story by providing summaries and critical analyses of each chapter of the novel. You'll also explore the life and background of the author, Oscar Wilde, and gain insight into how he came to write this novel. Other features that help you study include A list of characters Glossaries to define new and unfamiliar terms Critical essays about Oscar Wilde’s views and life A review section that tests your knowledge A list of online resources for more study Classic literature or modern-day treasure—you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.