1984 George Orwell

In George Orwell's prophetic 1949 novel, Winston Smith lives in the superstate of Oceania, where the omnipresent Party led by Big Brother enforces absolute power through constant surveillance, telescreens, and the Thought Police. Winston dares to rebel by keeping a secret diary and falling in love with Julia, but their defiance draws the regime's wrath, leading to capture, torture in the Ministry of Love, and ruthless reprogramming via doublethink and Newspeak that obliterates individuality and truth. The story masterfully exposes themes of propaganda, authoritarianism, and the fragility of human resistance, introducing enduring concepts like "Orwellian" society, room 101, and 2+2=5 to warn against the erosion of freedom.