Animal Farm

Written by George Orwell

Narrated by Ralph Cosham

George Orwell's classic satire of the Russian Revolution has become an intimate part of our contemporary culture, with its treatment of democratic, fascist, and socialist ideals through an animal fable. When the animals of Mr. Jones's Manor Farm revolt against their human rulers, they establish the democratic Animal Farm under the credo, “All Animals Are Created Equal.” Out of their cleverness, the pigs, Napoleon, Squealer, and Snowball, emerge as leaders of the new community. In a development of insidious familiarity, the pigs begin to assume ever greater amounts of power, while other animals, especially the faithful horse Boxer, assume more of the work. The climax of the story is the brutal betrayal of Boxer, when totalitarian rule is reestablished with the bloodstained postscript to the founding slogan: “But Some Animals Are More Equal than Others.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blackstone Audio
• Release date: Jan 1, 2007
• ISBN: 9780786102532

George Orwell

George Orwell (1903–1950), the pen name of Eric Arthur Blair, was an English novelist, essayist, and critic. He was born in India and educated at Eton. After service with the Indian Imperial Police in Burma, he returned to Europe to earn his living by writing. An author and journalist, Orwell was one of the most prominent and influential figures in twentieth-century literature. His unique political allegory Animal Farm was published in 1945, and it was this novel, together with the dystopia of 1984 (1949), which brought him worldwide fame. 

Reviews for Animal Farm

[expatscot-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A must read

[mhanover10 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

What a strange story and kind of creepy.

[malexmave · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Quite the interesting read. It is obvious what Orwell was talking about, but still, it is a new and interesting way to display it.

Overall, probably also due to the nature of the protagonists of the book, it did not have the same effect of shock that 1984 had. In any case, it is a good book, a quick read (took me about two hours), and well worthy of a place in your bookshelves, next to 1984, Fahrenheit 451 and Brave New World (which I will read next).

[amandrake_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What can be said about "Animal Farm" that hasn't been said before? Subjectively, then, it's an enjoyable but sobering read that no doubt reveals more with each reading - not about the novel itself, but about the human nature it depicts.I know every generation says "It's more relevant than ever", but in this administration specifically (2019)... it's more relevant than ever.

[sandra.pinkerton83 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

interesting analysis of socialism and greed. particularly given the publication date of 1946

[fmrox · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Amusing. Totalitarianism.

[elainepx2014 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

this book is about a group of animals who live on a farm and they go against humans.

[veneta09 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

awesome reflection of human nature in a way that can be comprehended by all ages

[gilroy_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Another classic to read (listen to) as I work toward the books I really want.The first part of this audio is actually an article written about Orwell and the writing of this book. As it was read, I fuzzed at my set "Get to the story already."Subtle this book is not. It hits you over the head with the concept and keeps it up until the book's end. I felt like the constant shifts of the animals shows the modern politics as much as it does the age it was written. Almost thinking it fits as a warning to modern voters.Two feet bad, four feet good...

[jonfaith · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When I first started in the human services, way back while still at Uni, I was schedulled to work overnights for a while at a group home. I read this novel my first night. There are more symbols than I'd like to admit in my subsequent career. I've read three times since and remain amazed.

[michael5rimmer · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fairytale of how the Russian revolution was betrayed by its leaders, principally Stalin but also those who stood with him. It's not, I think, an indictment of communism, as the communist idyll imagined by the revolutionaries was strangled at birth, replaced by the changling of state capitalism. The story, and the historical country, start and end with the capitalist exploitation of the people by a socio-political elite. A rather grim fairytale.

[foof2you · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An animal farm teaches us about life and politics who'd of thought it. A must read if you haven't already.

[starla_aurora · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

oh how familiar the story line is to our own lives.

[rnmdfrd · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've heard that this book is about the negative aspects of socialism, but really I think it's more about how easy it is to dominate a country that is either not educated or "selectively" educated, meaning their information is filtered. To me it doesn't really illustrate how socialism is wrong. This book didn't move me on a personal level, so I probably would've given it a 3 star, but I gave it an extra star because it reminds me of North Korea and it was written before North Korea got to be the way it is now.

[comfypants · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

The history of the soviet union is loosely translated into a childish code.1/4 (Bad).I stopped after half the book. I just can't think of anything I could possibly get out of finishing it.

[pzr-2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I'm not actually going to write a review, as such. What could I say about this peerless book that hasn't been said before? As a satirical allegory and analysis of human power structures it is the most perfect book I've read. I first did so when I was thirteen or so and didn't really understand the historical/political context but I was still gripped by the power of the storytelling, reading it in a single sitting, and have revisited it numerous times since. You couldn't change a single word to improve it.

So why bother to add words to the 40,000 Goodreads reviews? Because I noticed that it's Goodreads rating is under four-stars. 3.89. What? How is that even possible? A quick comparison - 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' (4.62), 'A Storm of Swords' (4.54), 'The Hunger Games' (4.33), 'American Gods' and 'Kafka on the Shore' (4.14)... I despair for the future of the book...

[bookomaniac-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Zeer onderhoudend sprookje met een politieke en algemeen-menselijke ondertoon. De boodschap mag destijds dan wel een ontmaskering van de Sovjetunie geweest zijn, het is nog altijd een ontluisterende illustratie van hoe macht kan corrumperen!

[valerieandbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"All animals are equal -- but some animals are more equal than others." -- Animal Farm, George OrwellI wish this had been assigned when I was in high school. Finally read this (many) years later. Although intended as a cautionary tale against communism/totalitarian regimes, it really is also a warning against "alternate facts" and corruption, and other woes that tend to occur in any kind of government.

[hopeevey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I downloaded this with several other books to listen to on a road trip with my 12 year old nephew. Much to my surprise, he not only choose this as out second book, he actually listened to the whole thing. My nephew had some very insightful comments as the story developed.

While Animal Farm has moments that could be classed as satire, it's more accurately described as allegory. The cycle of revolution, joyous improvement, then return to tyranny happens over and over. Putting it in the familiar microcosm of a farm lets the reader see the process from the outside.

My nephew wasn't particularly thrilled with this book - to his mind, it was okay to listen to once, but not worth returning to it. To my mind, it gives the two of us an accessible common language for discussing concepts/ideas that might otherwise be difficult to explain.

For myself, this book borders on horror. I could see the return to tyranny coming, and see just how easily it happens in human communities.

[booklover3258 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is part of the 1001 book to read before you die list. I absolutely loved this book! The story of animals rebelling was amazing. I knew it wouldn't be all roses with the animals in charge. Eventually one leader came about and basically turned the animals to slaves ... same as the humans. Ending was great. All in all a wonderful story that everyone should read in their lifetime.

[edensteffey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I put off reading this for a long time. I really liked it.

[tiffy_reads · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book was alright for me. Nothing remarkable to me but it was ok. I found myself wanting to yell at the animals for just blindly following the pigs. It ticked me off what happened to Boxer.

[thebacklistbook · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

A dystopian novella comparing the Russian Kremlin to that of a drastically mismanaged farm, is nothing short of the most annoying book i have read to date, though I may be biased. I had to read for a class, three different times.

[aagbay-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have never read any book quite like Animal Farm before. It is filled with speeches, slogans, and corruption. When the book was first written, it was meant to target Stalinist Russia. However, it still is very relevant in today's modern world. It captures your imagination and makes you think about our lives that we live in today.Animals living on Manor Farm have just taken over the farm. All the animals believe in a new life for themselves filled with equality, safety, easy living, and retirement. As the years go by, readers watch how their new society grows and changes within themselves. It is not to different than what we experience in the real world.The book was very intriguing. It replaced humans and our social classes with those of other animals. We learn of the different ways they act and see almost a mirror image of what life would be like under the conditions of total freedom. However, we also see how power will change those in charge, a change that we see during our lives in the real world.Readers will be able to make their comparisons of the new animal society and our everyday world. You could see the different social classes, the corruption, the lying and deceitful nature that can come about with the access to rule over others. All of these ideas create a very lifelike group.Animal Farm is a very interesting book. We see how power and freedom affects those who aren't used to their influence and glimpse into the evolution of a government. We see a model world just like ours, but in a way that sets it apart and makes it more interesting than just a model using humans. The book was good and very intriguing.

[heycaye · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

How timely. In this age of fake news and threatened democracy (especially here in my country the Philippines), Animal Farm is such a fresh take that put things in perspective for me. It was a much needed reminder; it showed the telltale signs of the slow rise of tyranny. The parallels are sharp- and I do not like this coincidence.

[reinadecopiaypega · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Read this book in 6th grade and while I may not have understood socialism, Nazism or Marxism or anything political and at 55 politics is still one big snooze to me and I would not know what each candidate stands for if they bit me in the butt, politics is just not my thing.

I do remember it leaving quite an impression on me even if I did not totally 'get' the political components to this book, though it was clear to me then it had something far greater to do with things just beyond talking animals.

A

[moniica_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Synopsis: Set in the English countryside on "Manor Farm" we are introduced to the animals on the farm, each with their own distinct personality, and their plan to take over the farm, so the animals can be set free, led by Old Major.An uprising occurs, after which the pigs (who are declared to be more intelligent) take the lead, and the Seven Commandments are formed:1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.3. No animal shall wear clothes.4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.5. No animal shall drink alcohol.6. No animal shall kill any other animal.7. All animals are equal.After the uprising, Napoleon and Snowball have different ideas on how Manor Farm should be managed. Snowball proposes that the animals contribute to build a windmill to reap future benefits, while Napoleon held aloof and declared himself against the windmill from the start. The animals find themselves formed into two fractions: "Vote for Snowball and the three-day week" and "Vote for Napoleon and the full manger".As the story progresses, a clever, ruthless elite among them takes control, the other animals find themselves hopelessly ensnared in the old ways.My Opinion: We quickly learn the different personalities of the animals and the effect they have on the uprising. Good plot twist at the end.I think had I read this as a young adult the plot would probably have been a little bit less predictable, but nonetheless, it was an intriguing and exciting read.

[liladillerauthor · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I think everyone should read this once. But it's not fun, happy reading. And I really don't want to read it again.

[dandanrevolution · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Timeless, wonderful, wry.

[joshrskinner-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed when the spider wrote about the little pig in her web but was sad when she died. I did enjoy how the little pig learned how shepherd sheep and saved the farm at a big city sheep show.

I thought the part about the 2 dogs and a cat wondering back across the country to reunite with the sheepherding talking pig was unrealistic but entertaining.

Great book.