The novel "1984" was written by George Orwell and is a dystopian fiction. It portrays a totalitarian government in a post-World War II world where independent thinking is punishable, and all aspects of life are under government control. The story follows Winston Smith, a low-ranking member of the ruling Party, as he begins to question the government's actions and falls in love with a woman who shares his dissent. The novel highlights themes of oppression, surveillance, propaganda, and the power of language in shaping reality.