The Distortion and Demise of Language and the Written Word in Aldous Huxley and Selected Russian Dystopias

Abstract

Critical studies of classic British dystopic novels from the first half of the 20th century have undeniably been extensive and voluminous, whereas the more contemporary Russian dystopias came into being later and there is therefore much less critical research on the issues raised therein, especially in comparison with the scholarship on British dystopia. The aim of this study therefore is to fill a gap in this field of academic research. Specifically, the author pays particular attention to the interplay between selected works of classic British/Russian dystopia and contemporary dystopic Russian novels. Furthermore, an attempt has been made to pinpoint connections between the reality of the dystopian worlds discussed herein and the real world.

Keywords

• dystopia
• huxley
• russian dystopia
• novels