Example of a good opening line: “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.”
On this day in 1949 the book, 1984 by Eric Arthur Blair, AKA George Orwell, was published. Orwell wrote the book while on an island in the Scottish Hebrides. He wanted to get way after his wife’s death and his success with Animal Farm. He had TB but continued to write, despite his illness (he also remarried – the marriage taking place in the hospital in October of 1949). Born June 23, 1903 in India. His mother moved the family to England when he was one. He died January 21, 1950 at the age of 49 in London. 
Some of his other books are: The Clergyman’s Daughter, Burmese Days, Coming Up For Air, Down and Out in Paris and London, Keep the Aspidistra Flying (I have to look at this one just because of the title – What’s an aspidistra?!)
CKBooks Publishing 
A fascinating writer, though the math here doesn’t quite add up: if he was born on 23rd June in 1903, and died 21st January 1950 – it is rather unlikely he was 49 years old. Just saying… Very interesting tid-bit though.;)
You’re correct. I just took this off another site and didn’t do the math myself. So if the dates are correct, he was 46 he died. I should probably check those too. Thanks for catching that!