Whereas 1984, in contrast, seems to be founded on the idea that the 'bureaucratic' machine is all powerful. We is incredibly systematic and logical, which creates a society that seems entirely based on mathematical formulas. I have had occasion recently to look into the history of animal magnetism and hypnotism, and have been greatly struck by the way in which, for a hundred and fifty years, the world has refused to take serious cognizance of the discoveries of Mesmer, Braid, Esdaile, and the rest. Most notably, the way in which the authors develop and portray their dystopian societies. My own belief is that the ruling oligarchy will find less arduous and wasteful ways of governing and of satisfying its lust for power, and these ways will resemble those which I described in Brave New World. Whether in actual fact the policy of the boot-on-the-face can go on indefinitely seems doubtful.

The philosophy of the ruling minority in Nineteen Eighty-Four is a sadism which has been carried to its logical conclusion by going beyond sex and denying it. May I speak instead of the thing with which the book deals - the ultimate revolution? The first hints of a philosophy of the ultimate revolution - the revolution which lies beyond politics and economics, and which aims at total subversion of the individual’s psychology and physiology - are to be found in the Marquis de Sade, who regarded himself as the continuator, the consummator, of Robespierre and Babeuf. It arrived as I was in the midst of a piece of work that required much reading and consulting of references and since poor sight makes it necessary for me to ration my reading, I had to wait a long time before being able to embark on Nineteen Eighty-Four.Īgreeing with all that the critics have written of it, I need not tell you, yet once more, how fine and how profoundly important the book is. It was very kind of you to tell your publishers to send me a copy of your book.

1984 brave new world