Animal Farm (Signet Classics) [Mass Market Paperback]

Since its publication in 1946, George Orwell's fable of a workers' revolution gone wrong has been recognized as a classic of modern political satire. Fuelled by Orwell's intense disillusionment with Soviet Communism, Animal Farm is a nearly perfect piece of writing--both an engaging story and an allegory that actually works. When the downtrodden beasts of Manor Farm oust their drunken human master and take over management of the land, all are awash in collectivist zeal. Everyone willingly works overtime, productivity soars and for one brief, glorious season, every belly is full. The animals' Seven Commandment credo is painted in big white letters on the barn. All animals are equal. No animal shall drink alcohol, wear clothes, sleep in a bed or kill a fellow four-footed creature. Those that go upon four legs or wings are friends and the two-legged are, by definition, the enemy. Too soon, however, the pigs, who have styled themselves leaders by virtue of their intelligence, succumb to the temptations of privilege and power. "We pigs are brainworkers. The whole management and organisation of the farm depend on us. Day and night, we are watching over your welfare. It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples." While this swinish brotherhood sells out the revolution, cynically editing the Seven Commandments to excuse their violence and greed, the common animals are once again left hungry and exhausted, no better off than in the days when humans ran the farm. Satire Animal Farm may be, but it's a stony reader who remains unmoved when the stalwart workhorse, Boxer, having given his all to his comrades, is sold to the glue factory to buy booze for the pigs. Orwell's view of Communism is bleak indeed, but given the history of the Russian people since 1917, his pessimism has an air of prophecy. --Joyce Thompson --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

`Brilliant'. --Daily Mail --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

A stunning hardback edition of the classic novel, with a new introduction by Christopher Hitchens --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

The classic political satire on the corrupting nature of power, in which the animals of Mr Jones's farm successfully overthrow their human masters and resolve to live in harmony and equality, only to find that "some are more equal than others". This is a special anniversary edition. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

George Orwell (Born Eric Arthur Blair) was born in India in 1903, but moved to England in 1907 and in 1917 entered Eton, where he began writing. He worked widely in journalism but fame came in 1945 with the publication of Animal Farm. Nineteen Eighty-Four appeared in 1949, a year before his death. Timothy West is one of Britain's most eminent theatre and television stars, and in 1984, he was awarded the CBE for services to the entertainment industry. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.