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From Amazon.com
Since its publication in 1946, George Orwell's fable of a workers' revolution gone wrong has rivaled Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea as the Shortest Serious Novel It's OK to Write a Book Report About. (The latter is three pages longer and less fun to read.) Fueled 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.
From Library Journal
This 50th-anniversary commemorative edition of Orwell's masterpiece is lavishly illustrated by Ralph Steadman. In addition, it contains Orwell's proposed introduction to the English-language version as well as his preface to the Ukrainian text. Though all editions of Animal Farm are equal, this one is more equal than others.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Easy, enjoyable, and important book to read,
By Wolfman (Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Animal Farm (Paperback)
In terms of reading books that are classics, this one is pain free. The language is easy and it's short enough to get through in a day, and best of all the story is entertaining. My advice would be to spend a few hours on the net reading about the Russian Revolution and Stalin's bio before reading to make sure you appreciate all the allusion, allegory, metaphors and all that blah blah stuff that makes it an important book. This is the one book I actually liked when I had to read it in highschool, 10 or so years later I still enjoyed breezing through it.
5.0 out of 5 stars
No animal may drink alcohol "to excess",
By
This review is from: Sigent Classics Animal Farm 50th Anniversary Edition (Mass Market Paperback)
A fairy tale or a nightmare? It all began with a dream by Major, a Middle White boar, of equality, and freedom from oppression. Maybe not in our life comrade, but eventually.
The dream brings a song. Intolerable conditions lead to revolution. As time passes things change; not exactly as planned. There are two striking parts to this tale that stand out. First when Boxer is sent to the hospital and Benjamin reads the side of the van "Horse Slaughterer." Secondly there was a party in the farm house as the pigs were playing cards with the men, two aces of spades showed up. An argument ensues. Then a realization was drawn by the creatures outside looking in as they "...looked from pig to man, and man to pig, and from pig to man again..."
5.0 out of 5 stars
Near perfect novel,
By Arnold K. (Vancouver) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Animal Farm (Paperback)
Like all classic novels, this one is bound to irritate a few, and delight others. The story begins when Old Major (a prize winning white boar) tells the other animals the dream he had had the night before when all humans are gone and all animals will be free. He tells them about the rebellion, but warns them if it should ever happen the animals must never adapt to human traits or intimidate others. George Orwell's satire represents the Russian Revolution of 1917. Every different character represents a different leader, social group or historical event that happened surrounding the Russian Revolution. For example the pigs represent Joseph Stalin, Leon Trotsky, and Vladimir Lenin. Mr. Jones, representing Czar Nicholas II, spends a lot of his time drinking and neglecting his work. During the reign of Czar Nicholas II, the Russian people experienced terrible poverty and turmoil just like the animals under Mr. Jones lead lives of hunger and want. When Jones neglects feeding the animals, they rebel. After the rebellion the struggle between Napoleon (Joseph Stalin) and Snowball (Leon Trotsky) for control over the farm escalates into major disturbances. When Snowball is run off the farm, Napoleon and Squealer (representing the communist newspaper Pravda) separate themselves more and more from the other animals. Squealer helps Napoleon in twisting the truth to tell the animals. Who is left with the farm? Is the animals' worst fear about Jones coming back going to become a reality? Will the other animals realize a dictator is ruling them? I really enjoyed reading this book because it was easy to follow and didn't use many difficult terms that were hard to understand. Animal Farm is an example of one of those books you would stay up all night just to finish. Must also recommend another great Amazon pick: "Katzenjammer" by Jackson McCrae--very funny and a great glimpse into New York and what one person does to get published.
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