What is George Orwell’s 1984 about, when was the novel released and why have sales soared? Here’s all you need to know

GEORGE Orwell's dystopian novel 1984 had "doublegood" sales after one of Trump's advisers used the phrase "alternative facts" in an interview, and the saying has caught on.

Kellyanne Conway's "Orwellian" choice of words has sent 1984 soaring to the top of the Amazon bestsellers chart.

We take a look at the classic novel and examine how its concepts tie in with the language of Trump's administration.

What is George Orwell's novel 1984 about?

Orwell's novel 1984 is a bleak portrayal of Great Britain re-imagined as a dystopian superstate governed by a dictatorial regime.

The UK has been renamed Airstrip One and is under the control of the Inner Party - which persecutes independent thought and individuality.

The main character Winston Smith works for the "Ministry of Truth" and is required to rewrite historical news articles to support the ruling party's line.

Many concepts of the novel have crossed over to popular culture or have entered common use in everyday life - the repressive regime is overseen by Big Brother, and the government's invented language "newspeak" was designed to limit freedom of thought.

The term "doublethink" - where a person can accept two contradicting beliefs as both being correct - first emerged in the dystopian landscape of Airstrip One.

The novel's heroin Julia is based on Orwell's second wife Sonia Orwell.

1984's subject matter gave birth to the phrase "Orwellian" - an adjective used to describe an idea or action that is destructive to a free and open society.

When was 1984 released?

The novel was published in 1949 and was received well by critics.

S. Pritchett, reviewing the novel for the New Statesman stated: "I do not think I have ever read a novel more frightening and depressing; and yet, such are the originality, the suspense, the speed of writing and withering indignation that it is impossible to put the book down.”

However Edward Shanks, reviewing for The Sunday Times, said the novel "breaks all records for gloomy vaccination."

What is the connection between 1984 and the election of US President Donald Trump?

The public started drawing comparisons between the Inner Party's regime and Trump's presidency when his adviser used the phrase "alternative facts" in an interview.

Kellyanne Conway was being quizzed after the White House press secretary Sean Spicer apparently lied about the number of people who attended Trump's inauguration.

The presenter asked why President Trump has asked Spicer to come out to speak to the press and "utter a falsehood".

Conway responded that Spicer didn't utter a falsehood but gave "alternative facts".