Book Review | Animal Farm by George Orwell

Animal Farm

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Rating

4 stars – Orwell’s classic explores utopia and corruption through the eyes of farmyard animals

Description

It is the history of a revolution that went wrong – and of the excellent excuses that were forthcoming at every step for the perversion of the original doctrine

Why did you choose to read this book?

My attempts to read a classic for the Classics Challenge have so far failed – so I thought I’d give this novella a try!

The Book Review

I can’t actually believe that I’ve never read this book before – my brother must have studied it at school which is how I come to have a copy gathering dust on a shelf!

If you are one of the minority of people who hasn’t read it either then I would recommend you do. It’s an excellent allegory; using farmyard animals who overthrow their humans in search of utopia to show that such a state of equality is impossible to achieve – because of the corruptive influence of the very power required to necessitate it.

Animal Farm starts with a dream and a suggestion of a better life with Major, the old boar, gathering the animals to share a dream he has had and to inform then that one day animals will form a Rebellion and overthrow the human race.

The Rebellion comes sooner than anticipated when the animals seize their chance to rid themselves of Mr Jones and his workers, and in the early days it seems that such a utopia is possible. But soon the pigs promote themselves to leaders and the corruption commences. As the months turn into years Napolean slowly exerts his influence; twisting what was once the truth and using his trusty spindoctor to ensure the animals forget what was agreed by all, until eventually no one can tell the difference between the man and the pig.

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Watch a short Barnes & Noble video about George Orwell’s Animal Farm