A review by avidreader999
Factory 19 by Dennis Glover

4.0

A twist on the Orwell novel 1984, Glover’s book is set in 2022 and instead explores the possibility that things were better in the past - 1948 in fact. A ship sails up the Derwent to Gofa (the gallery of future art) and a whole lot of secretive building goes on. Shortly thereafter, all those left adrift by the recession are offered full employment and a new chance of a productive and happy life at Factory 19 - all they have to do is live exactly as people lived in 1948 - sans mobile phones, tablets, computers etc. At first this seems like a veritable utopia - what could possibly go wrong? - but inevitably the wheels start to fall off. A lot less economic with words than Orwell’s offering this is a clever and audacious book. Recommended.