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George Orwell, Christopher Hitchens: Animal Farm (2021, Penguin Random House)

English language

Published Jan. 16, 2021 by Penguin Random House.

ISBN:
978-1-78487-657-9
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4 stars (35 reviews)

Animal Farm is a brilliant political satire and a powerful and affecting story of revolutions and idealism, power and corruption. 'All animals are equal. But some animals are more equal than others.' Mr Jones of Manor Farm is so lazy and drunken that one day he forgets to feed his livestock. The ensuing rebellion under the leadership of the pigs Napoleon and Snowball leads to the animals taking over the farm. Vowing to eliminate the terrible inequities of the farmyard, the renamed Animal Farm is organised to benefit all who walk on four legs. But as time passes, the ideals of the rebellion are corrupted, then forgotten. And something new and unexpected emerges..

187 editions

Review of 'Animal Farm' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

This is one of the best political satire books I’ve read, though I’m not sure if the fact that it still stands up today is a mark of Orwell’s prescience or that politicians haven’t changed that much. It’s far less depressing than 1984, and the use of animals allows Orwell to make his points without explicitly saying who he is thinking of, and the reader can insert their own guesses for each one as desired. This, together with Yes Minister, should be required reading/watching before you vote for the first time, to instil the appropriate level of cynicism.

Subjects

  • English literature