Animal Farm

5W George Orwell. New York: Harcourt, Brace, and Co., 1946. 

Notes

Animal Farm by George Orwell, published in 1945, is a political allegory that uses a group of farm animals to satirize the Russian Revolution and the rise of totalitarianism. The story begins with the animals overthrowing their human farmer in hopes of creating a fair and equal society. However, as the pigs—led by the cunning Napoleon—gain power, the farm descends into tyranny that mirrors or even worsens the oppression they originally escaped. The famous line “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” captures the central theme of how power corrupts and ideals can be manipulated for control.

Though short and written in the style of a fable, Animal Farm is a sharp and enduring critique of authoritarian regimes, propaganda, and the betrayal of revolutionary ideals. Orwell’s clear, direct prose and symbolic characters—like Snowball (Trotsky), Napoleon (Stalin), and Boxer (the loyal working class)—make the book accessible yet deeply impactful. It remains a cornerstone of political literature and is often taught alongside Orwell’s 1984 for its insights into power, control, and resistance.

Description

Green canvas binding with gilt lettering to spine. Original dust wrapper. Some white marking to upper board along extremities. Some damp-staining. Chipping and small tears  along edges. Good condition.