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Animal Farm

A timeless allegory of power and betrayal

George Orwell author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:HarperCollins Publishers

Published:7th Jan '21

Should be back in stock very soon

Animal Farm cover

This classic tale explores the rise and fall of a revolutionary society on a farm, where ideals are corrupted by power. Animal Farm serves as a timeless allegory.

In Animal Farm, the animals of Manor Farm grow increasingly frustrated with their neglectful owner, Farmer Jones. The pigs, led by the wise Old Major, dream of a rebellion that will free them from human oppression. Inspired by Old Major's vision, the animals unite to overthrow Jones, believing they can create a society where all animals are equal and work for the common good. However, as the pigs take charge, their leadership begins to mirror the very tyranny they sought to escape.

As the story unfolds, the pigs gradually alter the principles of their newfound society, manipulating language and truth to consolidate their power. The famous commandment, 'All animals are equal,' is soon amended to 'All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.' This chilling transformation serves as a poignant commentary on the corrupting influence of power and the ease with which noble ideals can be subverted.

Animal Farm is not just a tale about farm animals; it is a powerful allegory reflecting the political turmoil of Orwell's time, particularly the Russian Revolution and its aftermath. The book's enduring relevance speaks to the universal themes of power, betrayal, and the struggle for freedom, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the dynamics of society and governance.

‘[Orwell’s] wit is both edged and human. Few writers of any period have been able to use the English language so simply and accurately to say what they mean, and at the same time to mean something’ The New Republic (1946)

‘The book for everyone and Everyman, its brightness undimmed after fifty years’ Daily Telegraph

‘Orwell … has written in a prose so plain and spare, so admirably proportioned to his purpose, that Animal Farm even seems very creditable if we compare it with Voltaire and Swift’ The New Yorker

‘A prophet who thought the unthinkable and spoke the unspeakable, even when it offended conventional thought’ Daily Express

‘Matchlessly sharp and fresh … The clearest and most compelling English prose style this century’ Sunday Times

ISBN: 9780008322052

Dimensions: 178mm x 111mm x 11mm

Weight: 70g

144 pages