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George Orwell鈥檚 1984 gave us a whole vocabulary to describe the techniques of modern tyranny: from Newspeak, to Doublethink, the Thought Police, and Big Brother, in many ways the language he created is Orwell鈥檚 biggest legacy. In today鈥檚 world of half-truths and 鈥榓lternative facts鈥�, Orwell's 1984 has never felt more relevant. The novel remains the book we turn to when facts are questioned, the truth is distorted and power is abused. Franz Kafka鈥檚 work plays a similar role: in February 2024, Russian human rights defender Oleg Orlov sat reading 鈥楾he Trial鈥� in a Moscow courtroom during his own trial. Helen Lewis and Ian Hislop find out how and why our duo鈥檚 writing is still so potent today. Guests: Masha Karp, author of 鈥淕eorge Orwell and Russia鈥� Dorian Lynskey, author of 鈥淭he Ministry of Truth: A Biography of George Orwell's 1984鈥� Professor Carolin Duttlinger of Wadham College, Oxford Steve Rosenberg, 麻豆社 Russia Editor. Producer: Sarah Shebbeare
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