Hardcover, 116 pages
English language
Published July 30, 2005 by 1st World Library.
Animal Farm is an allegorical novella by George Orwell, first published in England on 17 August 1945. The book tells the story of a group of farm animals who rebel against their human farmer, hoping to create a society where the animals can be equal, free, and happy. Ultimately, however, the rebellion is betrayed, and the farm ends up in a state as bad as it was before, under the dictatorship of a pig named Napoleon. According to Orwell, the fable reflects events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and then on into the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union. Orwell, a democratic socialist, was a critic of Joseph Stalin and hostile to Moscow-directed Stalinism, an attitude that was critically shaped by his experiences during the May Days conflicts between the POUM and Stalinist forces during the Spanish Civil War. The Soviet Union had become a totalitarian autocracy …
Animal Farm is an allegorical novella by George Orwell, first published in England on 17 August 1945. The book tells the story of a group of farm animals who rebel against their human farmer, hoping to create a society where the animals can be equal, free, and happy. Ultimately, however, the rebellion is betrayed, and the farm ends up in a state as bad as it was before, under the dictatorship of a pig named Napoleon. According to Orwell, the fable reflects events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and then on into the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union. Orwell, a democratic socialist, was a critic of Joseph Stalin and hostile to Moscow-directed Stalinism, an attitude that was critically shaped by his experiences during the May Days conflicts between the POUM and Stalinist forces during the Spanish Civil War. The Soviet Union had become a totalitarian autocracy built upon a cult of personality while engaging in the practice of mass incarcerations and secret summary trials and executions. In a letter to Yvonne Davet, Orwell described Animal Farm as a satirical tale against Stalin ("un conte satirique contre Staline"), and in his essay "Why I Write" (1946), wrote that Animal Farm was the first book in which he tried, with full consciousness of what he was doing, "to fuse political purpose and artistic purpose into one whole".The original title was Animal Farm: A Fairy Story, but U.S. publishers dropped the subtitle when it was published in 1946, and only one of the translations during Orwell's lifetime kept it. Other titular variations include subtitles like "A Satire" and "A Contemporary Satire". Orwell suggested the title Union des républiques socialistes animales for the French translation, which abbreviates to URSA, the Latin word for "bear", a symbol of Russia. It also played on the French name of the Soviet Union, Union des républiques socialistes soviétiques.Orwell wrote the book between November 1943 and February 1944, when the United Kingdom was in its wartime alliance with the Soviet Union against Nazi Germany, and the British intelligentsia held Stalin in high esteem, a phenomenon Orwell hated. The manuscript was initially rejected by a number of British and American publishers, including one of Orwell's own, Victor Gollancz, which delayed its publication. It became a great commercial success when it did appear partly because international relations were transformed as the wartime alliance gave way to the Cold War.Time magazine chose the book as one of the 100 best English-language novels (1923 to 2005); it also featured at number 31 on the Modern Library List of Best 20th-Century Novels, and number 46 on the BBC's The Big Read poll. It won a Retrospective Hugo Award in 1996 and is included in the Great Books of the Western World selection.
I love George Orwell. This is a beautiful allegory of communism through the eyes of a mid-twentieth century writer. It's not hard to see parallels to our current political situation.
This tale highlights how an idealistic revolution can turn to a dystopia worse than the oppresion from before. There are many parellels to the story of the Soviet Union which makes it especially interesting for history nerds.
3.5 stars
Power tends to corrupt, tale as old as time...
Good read, expected more on Benjamin aka "Donkey George."
4/5
i really miss snowball
update march 20 2022:
woah, i didn't notice that i started reading this exactly one year ago today. it took me an entire year to get over snowball's death it seems, haha.
a biting satire of Stalinism and the rise of authoritarian governments. Shows perfectly how popular revolution can be used to keep the "pigs" in power. Don't think this just applies to the USSR, though! this is as relevant now in America as it was to the Soviet Union before its collapse.
a biting satire of Stalinism and the rise of authoritarian governments. Shows perfectly how popular revolution can be used to keep the "pigs" in power. Don't think this just applies to the USSR, though! this is as relevant now in America as it was to the Soviet Union before its collapse.
Un classique de George Orwell, toujours plaisant et intéressant à lire.
Animal Farm's satire makes the novella interesting to read. Written after Bolshevik revolution and no reason why lot go over gaga. Confining to Bolshevik revolution is tunnel view. The core of the novella resembles with lot of today's politics and ancient kingdom. For a moment forget about the bolshevik revolution. Rebellion outbursts, the leader comes to power and slowly vanquishes non believers in ideas or voices. Slowly becomes benevolent dictator for life, corrupt and power moves from people to few hands. Change the word rebellion to whatever it is/was called during the time period. Isn't this the perfect politics all over the world ? Think of Indian political parties, Tamil Nadu parties. You got it right ? It rises few questions can some one have too much of power ? Rather than human, an organization can have (some say it is already at place) all power at disposal controlled by …
Animal Farm's satire makes the novella interesting to read. Written after Bolshevik revolution and no reason why lot go over gaga. Confining to Bolshevik revolution is tunnel view. The core of the novella resembles with lot of today's politics and ancient kingdom. For a moment forget about the bolshevik revolution. Rebellion outbursts, the leader comes to power and slowly vanquishes non believers in ideas or voices. Slowly becomes benevolent dictator for life, corrupt and power moves from people to few hands. Change the word rebellion to whatever it is/was called during the time period. Isn't this the perfect politics all over the world ? Think of Indian political parties, Tamil Nadu parties. You got it right ? It rises few questions can some one have too much of power ? Rather than human, an organization can have (some say it is already at place) all power at disposal controlled by few.
It boils down to humans thirst of power, leverage the power, ride on others work and lead king size life!
Wow! Orwell is a genius. I'd seen the animate movie years ago and that just doesn't capture what the book is about, I thought from the movie it was about pigs having a laff and a few beers. But this book is a scarily accurate portrayal of those in charge and of how they treat the working folk. I think if Orwell was alive today he would be pretty depressed on how the world has evolved and took his book as a manual.
Such a depressing read and you can't help but feel helpless whilst you read about Boxer. I thought the book was going to be too short, just over 100 pages, but it has been perfectly edited. Orwell is one of my favourite authors, not read anything bad by him.
wonderful book.. in all honesty this book as relevant today as it was the day it was written..
