Why can't Winston learn anything about the past?

The character Winston Smith from George Orwell's 1984 cannot learn the history of his society because the publication of historical information is prohibited by the totalitarian IngSoc government. The only history is published by the government itself, and this can hardly qualify as history. Historical information is constantly altered and rewritten for purposes of Propaganda and control of public opinion; in fact, Winston's job at the ironically-named Ministry of Truth requires him to rewrite historical government records.

Winston is also unable to learn his personal past because no personal records, such as photographs or diaries, are allowed. A minor sub-plot of the novel covers Winston's partial retrieval of his past through vivid memories from his childhood.