Animal Farm

Animal Farm is one of the most powerful political allegories ever written. First published in 1945, this short but incisive novel by George Orwell uses a simple farmyard story to expose the mechanics of totalitarianism, propaganda, and the corruption of revolutionary ideals.

The plot follows a group of farm animals who overthrow their human owner in the hope of creating a society based on equality and collective freedom. Inspired by the vision of the pigs, who present themselves as leaders and intellectuals, the animals establish a new order founded on shared rules and promises. However, as time passes, those in power gradually distort language, manipulate history, and rewrite the very principles on which the rebellion was built.

Orwell’s brilliance lies in his clarity. Through deceptively plain prose and symbolic characters, Animal Farm reveals how power concentrates, how fear replaces solidarity, and how truth becomes a tool of control. The pigs’ slogans, revisions of commandments, and staged public confessions mirror real political mechanisms, making the novel a universal warning rather than a story tied to one historical moment.

Although originally written as a critique of Soviet totalitarianism, Animal Farm remains strikingly relevant today. Its themes—disinformation, political apathy, and the erosion of democratic values—resonate in modern societies across the world. The novel challenges readers to question authority, recognize manipulation, and reflect on their own responsibility within political systems.

This Penguin Classics edition presents Orwell’s text in a clean, authoritative format, suitable for students, educators, and general readers alike. Animal Farm is essential reading for anyone interested in politics, history, ethics, and the enduring struggle between ideals and power.