George Orwell's 1984 isn't just a novel; it is a key to understanding the modern world. Politically, the concepts of Orwell's last novel have become part of the modern lexicon - from 'Big Brother' to the 'Thought Police', 'Doublethink', and 'Newspeak' - and seem ever more relevant in the era of 'fake news' and 'alternative facts'. Meanwhile, the cultural influence of 1984 can be observed in some of the most notable creations of the past seventy-five years, from novels such as Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale to films such as Terry Gilliam's Brazil , from graphic novels (Alan Moore and David Lloyd's V for Vendetta ) to concept rock albums (David Bowie's Diamond Dog s). It has ranged as far as TV commercials for Apple Computers - and of course to the grandfather of reality TV, Big Brother . Dorian Lynskey's unique and original book explores the influences, from George Orwell's life and his reading, that came together in the writing of his novel, from his experiences of the Spanish Civil War to the novel's roots in the utopian and dystopian literature that preceded it. And it explores the political and cultural phenomenon that the novel ignited on publication and the changing ways in which readings of the novel has reflected our times. 2019 marks the eightieth anniversary of the publication of what is arguably Orwell's masterpiece, while the year 1984 itself is now as far in the past to us as it was in the future to Orwell as he was writing it. The Ministry of Truth is a fascinating examination of one of the most significant works of modern English literature, and not only explains how history can inform fiction, but how fiction can inform our readings of history.