George Orwell wrote this book, which is often considered a statement on government oversight.

The story behind the answer

1984 is correct. George Orwell’s dystopian novel portrays a society under constant surveillance—“Big Brother is watching you”—where the Party controls truth through propaganda, “Newspeak,” and the “Thought Police.” It’s a stark warning about totalitarianism and government overreach.

Published in 1949, 1984 drew on Orwell’s observations of fascism and Stalinism; legend says he reversed the last two digits of 1948 to title the book, making the date easy to remember. It also introduced lasting concepts like “doublethink” and “thoughtcrime.” By contrast, To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee), The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger), and The Old Man and the Sea (Ernest Hemingway) explore different themes. Memory tip: Think “Orwell = Oversight,” and “Big Brother = 1984.”