1984: A Novel is a work of dystopian science fiction and literary political fiction by English novelist George Orwell. It explores the concept of totalitarianism and underlines Orwell's opposition to the same. The novel is set in the fictional province of Oceania, one of the most powerful states in the world. It is a state ruled by The Party, a government that espouses totalitarianism. Under the leadership of a man named Big Brother, The Party tyrannizes the populace, defending its ideology as favouring the greater good. It is divided into fours ministries, which are used to control the people in various ways, from monitoring their public and private lives to reducing rationing, from manipulating information to countering dissension in torturous ways.