George Orwell's 1984

Very impressive. I really liked the artwork and visualization of the novel. The story came to life on the pages

Overall, I loved the execution of 1984 in graphic-novel form. I think the heartbeat of George Orwell's original book remains strong in this edition, and it's such an important literary work that I can't help but support any endeavor that gets Orwell's message into younger generations and more hands!

Having said that, I don't think this edition is the right way to introduce new audiences to Orwell. This is a true graphic novel, in which much more of the content is conveyed visually than through dialogue or writing. The illustrations absolutely bring the story to life in new ways, but there is still much context left to the imagination (or to the reader's recollection of the original) that a graphic novel simply doesn't convey.

I enjoyed 1984: The Graphic Novel more as a companion to the original, than as a replacement. The artwork is fantastic and is the best part of the book (I really loved the minimalistic use of color!), but you need at least a moderate understanding of the original story to fully appreciate this one.

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A huge thank you to Matyáš Namai, Palazzo Editions, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A very vivid take on the classic story, and well worth reading and considering in addition to the original text. The artistic approach conveys the menacing world of 1984, and illustrates the experience of the main character through both words and images. Recommended reading.

this was a very well executed novel-turned-graphic-novel. the art style was great and i enjoyed the story the panels told. i think this could be a great alternative for readers who are intimidated to read the original classic!

- thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the digital arc!

A beautiful graphic novel of this Orwell classic that captures the harsh tone of this story. I think some people who are intimidated by the original would gladly pick up this graphic novel and still understand the overall message of 1984. From thought crimes to the revisionist history, Orwell's classic comes to life in the pages of this graphic novel. It is not one to be missed. The pages took a bit to load in the digital edition, but the illustrations and text were perfect to convey the message.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This truly was an excellent visual representation of the novel. However, I would call this a companion to the original book, rather than a "read this instead!" as I'm not sure it's suitable to people who have not read the book before. A lot of the content is conveyed visually rather than through dialogue or writing -- as is the case with graphic novels of course! -- but it means that so much of the original context could be lost for those who are not familiar with, or have forgotten, some of the intricacies of the plot/societal commentary (of which there is a lot).

In some cases though, this is actually beneficial for those who don't want to have to traipse through 20 pages of Goldstein's Testaments haha.

Still, the core themes and commentary are there and the artwork is absolutely fantastic -- the minimalistic use of colour in comparison to the red of Big Brother representations etc. works especially well. The artwork is often incredibly morose and depressing. Perfect for 1984 let's be honest.

I also think that, in the original novel, the characters are often lacking in depth; but seeing them represented visually helped with this for me.

I'm rating this 4 star based on having already read the book and watching a stage show adaption fairly recently!

The graphic adaption of George Orwell's 1984 knocks it out of the park with hand in hand art and storytelling. I'm quite fond of classics getting graphic adaptions to make reading accessible to more audiences.

The art balances a gritty darkness with intimate detail to help the reader get the most from the story. Namai uses splashes of red amongst the black and white to draw the reader to the heretical ideals of our main characters. Namai also creates the sense that we are seeing this novel as a movie. I would liken the contrasting wide and close shots, as well as the touches of absurdism imagery, to directors like David Lynch and Darren Aronofsky.

It is quite long for a graphic novel, and while I enjoy being able to read the story all at once, it is possible it would do better as a two volume set.

Overall, a must have for libraries and schools.

Any new adaptation of “Nineteen Eighty-Four” is to be welcomed, and Matyas Namai’s graphic novel, rechristened “1984”, is a glorious addition to English literature’s dystopian library. It’s obvious from the lavish production values of this volume that this is a major adaptation of George Orwell’s timeless classic.
Like most people I know the story well, so there’s no need to recap it here. Originally a commentary on Stalinism, it has become an eternal warning against the horrors of totalitarianism. The omnipresent Big Brother resembles a faded 1930s matinee idol, with a touch of Oswald Mosley, which is appropriate, and Winston Smith is aptly depicted as a downtrodden slave of the system. With the art mostly in harsh monochrome, Julia’s red sash is a vivid splash of colour, and she is drawn as a loyal party member, but she softens later on whilst remaining a strong character. O’Brien, the main antagonist, for want of a better word, is perfectly rendered as a ruthless and barbaric Party member.
The lettering throughout is small and not as bold as is usually the case with comics; this story demands your close attention-this isn’t a Marvel comic to be read in five minutes and discarded. The speech-bubbles are often densely packed with words, necessary to properly convey Orwell’s work. The script is rigorously faithful to the source material, even including prose extracts from Emmanuel Goldstein’s forbidden book.
Namai’s art throughout is emotive and effective, spare and economical; reminiscent of the best artists of 70s. The panels depicting Winston Smith’s world are dark, cramped and dirty, while the scenes of Winston & Julia’s furtive trysts in the outside world are wildly free and refreshing. Later scenes of interrogation are forensically brutal and utterly haunting. And beyond all that is Room 101…
The book is rounded off with galleries, original character sketches, rough drafts of the excellent propaganda posters used throughout, etc. The amount of work that went into this graphic novel is staggering.
Matyas Namai’s adaptation both respects and maybe even improves on Orwell’s original story. It brings “1984” to visceral, vivid life, kicking and screaming, and is doubleplusgood.

I thoroughly enjoyed my exploration of this adaption of George Orwell's 1984. The artwork brought with it a sense of dark despair, so much of it utilizing colors when emphasis is needed and shocking the reader with the sharp contrast of the black and white. One of the best things about this graphic novel is that the artist does such a good job capturing much of the novel within the artwork, thus showing the reader what's going on without needing to explain. It adds much more emphasis to Orwell's writing when it's given a vivid, physical image.

Whether coming to Orwell's work for the first time or you're someone whose familiar with the work, I think this graphic novel would make a great addition to anyone's reading list. Pairing Orwell's storytelling with the vivid, sharp imagery from the artist, leaves the reader feeling as if they'd been transported to the dark world within the pages.

What a perfectly executed homage to George Orwell's dystopian masterpiece. Vivid, and engaging, I highly recommend this graphic-novel take on 1984, to be read alongside the classic text, or for readers intimidated by the original - I think this is worthy of your time.

The artwork is fantastic, and conveys the feeling of the novel perfectly. I think the sparse use of colour is a very intentional, very clever choice, and to the artist's credit, only adds to the story!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Palazzo Editions for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 compelling stars!

This is an excellent graphic novel adaptation of Orwell's 1984. Visually speaking, the selective use of red against the black, grey, and white is stunning. This would be great for reluctant readers. I will definitely be ordering copies for my classroom and the school library.

This is a well executed graphic novel of 1984 which truly grasps the tone of the novel. I believe it is a great way to get beginner reader's into a classic that can seem intimidating. It's also great for those who want to see the novel brought to life.

Here’s the thing, I don’t like dystopian novels, and to be honest still don’t like Orwell’s 1984 but this is a great rendition of it. It’s well written and the illustrations matched the tone of the work. I really appreciated the colorless world only using red to highlight certain things. If you’re a fan of 1984 you’ll enjoy it, and I can see those not sure if they want to dive into the original text giving this interpretation a go first. Well done team.

I flew through this story! The art is simply stunning, and I can't wait for this story to be shared with a new generation. Graphic Novels do a wonderful job at telling a story, and immersing the reader. I think it can be difficult for some individuals to focus on text, but this graphic novel adaptation was a page turner. The art is wonderful, and it retains all the heart of the original story by Orwell. I will definitely recommend this title for purchase for my library.

This graphic adaptation of 1984 packs a punch. The noir-style illustrations are well suited to Winston Smith’s narration. The text is quite dense, but does capture the overall mood of the prose version. Namai’s illustrations are powerful— there’s a distance when reading about the affair between Winston and Julia and the later torture at the hands of Big Brother in the original version that disappears when the images are drawn in such detail.

Thanks to Net Galley and Palazzo Editions for the electronic ARC.

A wonderful imagining of one of the seminal books on any reader's lists. The art style perfectly aligns with the central themes and direction of 1984 and, in bringing it alive in illustrations, even adds to the depth this story offers to anyone coming across it. Even as someone who has read 1984 before, this graphic novel undoubtedly adds to the impact of Orwell's original.