If you read much Orwell, you'll see most of the elements that went into 1984 are present in his earlier writing as well. "Such, Such Were the Joys" is obvious;

If you read much Orwell, you'll see most of the elements that went into 1984 are present in his earlier writing as well. "Such, Such Were the Joys" is obvious; other influences I recall are bits of "You and the Atomic Bomb", Down and Out.., Homage..., "Notes on Nationalism", "The Spike" and probably a few I'm forgetting. What surprises me is how many people think Smith is meant as a sympathetic character; recall what crimes he's willing to commit!