Julia
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
£0.99/mo for the first 3 months
Prime members: New to Audible? Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Julia
Buy Now for £18.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Louise Brealey
-
By:
-
Sandra Newman
About this listen
London, chief city of Airstrip One, the third most populous province of Oceania. It's 1984 and Julia Worthing works as a mechanic fixing the novel-writing machines in the Fiction Department at the Ministry of Truth. Under the ideology of IngSoc and the rule of the Party and its leader Big Brother, Julia is a model citizen - cheerfully cynical, believing in nothing and caring not at all about politics. She routinely breaks the rules but also collaborates with the regime whenever necessary. Everyone likes Julia. A diligent member of the Junior Anti-Sex League (though she is secretly promiscuous) she knows how to survive in a world of constant surveillance, Thought Police, Newspeak, Doublethink, child spies and the black markets of the prole neighbourhoods. She's very good at staying alive.
But Julia becomes intrigued by a colleague from the Records Department - a mid-level worker of the Outer Party called Winston Smith - when she sees him locking eyes with a superior from the Inner Party at the Two Minutes Hate. And when one day, finding herself walking toward Winston, she impulsively hands him a note - a potentially suicidal gesture - she comes to realise that she's losing her grip and can no longer safely navigate her world.
Seventy-five years after Orwell finished writing his iconic novel, Sandra Newman has tackled the world of Big Brother in a truly convincing way, offering a dramatically different, feminist narrative that is true to and stands alongside the original. For the millions of readers who have been brought up with Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, here, finally, is a provocative, vital and utterly satisfying companion novel.
©2023 Sandra Newman (P)2023 Sandra NewmanListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about Julia
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Rhodri James
- 19-08-24
Very smart
Over cooked at the end but well written and a genuinely interesting add on to the original
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Wilker
- 01-04-25
Stands giant next to 1984
Respectful of the original, it widens our knowledge of Oceania and of struggles there, it develops Julia at comparatively greater depth than 1984 developed Smith, I enjoyed every bit of this book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Alastair Davidson
- 15-12-23
An outstanding story
Written fully in the first person this is an outstanding story. I listened to the book and the narrator is first class.
Now for the radical comment; allowing that the background history is taken from the original 1984 this is a better story.
Sandra Newman has produced a masterpiece.
Very well done, thank you.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- H. J. Green
- 03-08-24
Can't believe I'm writing this, but... Better than the original!
I've always loved Nineteen Eighty-four, it's been my favourite book since I read it in my teens and many more times over the next thirty years. But Julia hit in ways that Nineteen Eighty-four simply doesn't. The woman's perspective and insight, the detail, the modern take - just perfection. Perfect narration too. Loved it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Angela M
- 29-03-25
Absolutely Incredible!
1984 has been one of my favourite books since I read it as a teenager and I have read it several times since and watched the movie adaptations.
Somehow Julia has surpassed 1984 in all ways! Sandra Newman has reconsidered the behaviours and motivations behind the main characters and in doing so has given us a richer and more detailed view of the dystopian Big Brother landscape.
While the ending is perfect on its own, it could lead into a sequel which is thrilling in itself.
Also top marks to the narrator, it couldn’t have been read better!
Let’s hope this is made into a movie as that would be the icing on The Party cake!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story1 out of 5 stars
- Parvati the Cat
- 19-09-24
Great start, but graphic torture content
I was very interested in the concept of this book. The retelling of 1984 from Julia’s perspective was well presented and certainly conveyed the bleakness of the original book, however I had to stop listening towards the end as the description of torture was so awful that I could not sleep. That is a real shame as the rest of the book was well executed.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Terry T
- 10-05-24
A great addition to the Orwellian narrative
A lot darker in places than 1984 with some fantastic twists and unexpected story lines that blend fantastically with the original a must listen for the fans of Orwell, not sure if I would listen again unlike Orwell’s 1984 but that is a very tough act to follow.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Irene
- 23-03-24
Satisfyingly familiar yet totally original
Seeing the same story from Julia’s point of view adds extra dimensions and nuance, making for an even more chilling telling of the classic 1984. A rare feat well accomplished and read.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mike La-Traille
- 19-03-25
1984 for 2025
Firstly Louise Brearly is a fabulous narrator and brings any book alive that I have listened too.
This is an excellent look at 1984 from Julia’s perspective and although extremely graphic in its portrayal it is justified to bring the horrors to the forefront.
Having seen the Burton / Hurt film version these along with other characters were my reference points for image.
Disturbing and heartbreaking with a real feel for a dystopian future that certainly captures Orwell’s original writing.
Superb!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- B. Whelan
- 23-10-23
Cracking story but could ruin 1984
Really good story and extended the world quite a bit. Harsh on Winston and has potential to annoy you if you love 1984
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful