Sandra Newman's "Julia" Offers a Feminist Take on George Orwell’s "1984"

Author Sandra Newman's novel "Julia," approved by the George Orwell estate, retells the story of "1984" from a unique female perspective, exploring a dystopian world through the eyes of protagonist Winston Smith's lover, and achieving a tone of greater humanity and levity.

• Sandra Newman's novel 'Julia', authorized by George Orwell’s estate, presents a retelling of '1984' from a female perspective, focusing on Winston Smith's lover, Julia.
• Newman expands on the original story by focusing on Julia's adolescence, creating ingenious plot twists that subtly alter the implications, perfectly aligning yet deviating from the original narrative.
• 'Julia' scrutinizes the daily life under a totalitarian regime from a woman's perspective, revealing the hidden abuses and gender-based oppressions perpetuated by Orwell's Orwellian realities.
• Despite taking place in the confines of Orwell's grim original story, Newman’s innovative narrative style injects a tone of levity and humanity into the dystopian world.
• Complementing and countering Orwell’s critique of totalitarianism, Newman’s ‘Julia’ presents a more nuanced, thought-provoking examination of a oppressive political system from the perspective of women.
• Beyond the plot of '1984’, the novel also speculates on 'what happens next' after Winston and Julia betray each other, creating an engaging extension to Orwell's original ending as seen through Julia's eyes.

3 Articles

CNN Washington Post Associated Press