‘Big Brother’ becomes universal symbol in George Orwell’s novel

Tuesday, June 8

The 159th day of the year 206 days left

Today in history

George Orwell’s novel of a dystopian future, 1984, is published on June 8, 1949. The novel’s all-seeing leader, known as “Big Brother,” becomes a universal symbol for intrusive government and oppressive bureaucracy.

George Orwell was the nom de plume of Eric Blair, who was born in India. The son of a British civil servant, Orwell…