Novel Conversations Go to Novel Conversations

Rediscover the World's Greatest Stories

Frank Lavallo hosts two readers and the three of them summarize the world’s greatest works of classic literature, giving their reactions along the way. If SparkNotes had an audio best friend, it would be us!

Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Listen on Pandora

“1984” by George Orwell

Host: Frank Lavallo

Readers: Joan and Patrick Andrews

Author: George Orwell

Year of Publication: 1949

Plot: 1984 follows the life of Winston Smith, a low ranking member of ‘the Party’, who is frustrated by the omnipresent eyes of the party, and its ominous ruler, Big Brother. Orwell effectively explores the themes of mass media control, government surveillance, how a dictator can manipulate and control history, thoughts, and lives in such a way that no one can escape it.

Where to Listen

Find us in your favorite podcast app.

Podcasts for Life

Recent Episodes

View All

'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens

Novel Conversations
A Tale of Two Cities is one of the most prolific fictional works to every be written in the English language. Its story explores the nature of sac...
Listen to 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens

'Age of Innocence' by Edith Warton

Novel Conversations
Edith Wharton's 1920 novel is set in 1870s New York City, and explores the conflict between individual desire and cultural expectations in New Yor...
Listen to 'Age of Innocence' by Edith Warton

'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man' by James Joyce

Novel Conversations
The landmark debut novel of author James Joyce, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man tells the story of young Stephen Dedalus's spiritual and i...
Listen to 'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man' by James Joyce

'Treasure Island' by Robert Louis Stevenson

Novel Conversations
In Robert Louis Stevenson's seminal adventure novel "Treasure Island." The story follows young Jim Hawkins' journey aboard a pirate vessel, chasin...
Listen to 'Treasure Island' by Robert Louis Stevenson

You May Also Like

Listen toProfessional Book Nerds
Listen toHeard That Song
Listen toThe Sound of Movies