George Orwell's '1984' returned to library 65 years late with a note saying it's 'as relevant today'

A first-edition copy of George Orwell's novel "1984" was returned to a library 65 years overdue with a note from the borrower saying it needs to be read in today's society, CBS News reported.

The person, only identifying themselves with the initials "WP," said they checked it out of Multnomah County Library, in Oregon, in 1958. They said they meant to return it when they graduated college that year "but somehow never got around to doing it."

"After re-reading, I realize that, more than ever, this book should be put back in circulation. Significant parts are as relevant today as they were 65 tears [sic] ago," they said. "...Sorry to be so tardy. At age 86, I wanted to finally clear my conscience," WP wrote, adding that if the concepts of social media and the internet were in the book, it'd be a perfect descriptor for 2023.

1984 is a dystopian tale of a totalitarian government that implements mass surveillance and repressive control of its citizens and their behavior.

The library posted a photo of the book, which looked to be in relatively good condition, and the note, with the caption: "Fine-free libraries for the win! A patron recently returned this first edition copy of 1984 by George Orwell. It’s 65 years overdue! This book was originally checked out in 1958. It even has the Library Association of Portland stamp on the pages."