About this title: When the downtrodden animals of Manor Farm overthrow their master Mr Jones and take over the farm themselves, they imagine it is the beginning of a life of freedom and equality. But gradually a cunning, ruthless elite among them, masterminded by the pigs Napoleon and Snowball, starts to take control. Soon the other animals discover that they are ...
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Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin in association with Martin Secker & Warburg Ltd, London
Date Published: 1998
ISBN-13:9780140278736ISBN:0140278737
Description: Good. 94p. ; 18 cm. This text first published by Secker & Warburg, 1987. read more
Edition: 25th Print
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Signet Classic, New York
Date Published: 1946
Description: Good. 12mo-over 6¾"-7¾" tall. GOOD mass market paperback, binding tight, surface creases on front cover, small tear bottom edge back cover, light soiling on both covers, minor ink art on front cover. Previous owner's name blackened out on top of first end page, interior pages tanned, clean, no wear or marks, appears UNREAD. Political satire, literature. 128 pgs. LC709493. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Penguin in association with Secker & Warburg, Harmondsworth
Date Published: 1984
ISBN-13:9780140008388ISBN:0140008381
Description: Good. No dust jacket as issued. Edgewear on the cover, particularly along the spine. Inside very clean and intact with tanning pages. 119p.; 19 cm. Originally published: London: Secker & Warburg, 1945. read more
Edition: 2nd Classics
Publisher: Signet Books pub CD3, NY New American Library Pub
Date Published: 1946, 1959, dec
Description: Donkey & Pig cover art. VERY GOOD Condition. 4x7" Paper Covers 128pg thin BLACK Spine Titles On WHITE Covers......"...BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS. " VERY NICE, CLEAN, SOLID, BRIGHT COPY OF THIS CLASSICS EDITION.. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Penguin in association with Secker & Warburg, Harmondsworth
Date Published: 1951
ISBN-13:9780140008388ISBN:0140008381
Description: Fair. No dust jacket as issued. Number 838, Orange and white colored cover, faded, book separated from cover, hand wrting on pages 0 to 5. 119p.; 19 cm. Originally published: London: Secker & Warburg, 1945. read more
Edition: Eighth Signet Classic Edition printing. 1962
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: The New American Library, [New York]
Date Published: 1959
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. Covers are beginning to tan but are free of creases. Text is clean and bright. Binding is tight. xiii, 128 p. 18 cm. read more
"As I just finished reading the novella, I found myself incredibly wearing an air of extreme excitement!! And I couldn't help it but to run towards the computer to write a review about it!
Animal Farm is one of the most spectacular literary works of all the time, not only during the 20th century. However, in order to get it right and enjoy its brilliance, you ought to go back in time and look at the conditions and events where this stunning novella was born. Orwell's novella is about a group of animals who live in a farm called "Manor Farm", owned by their master, Jones. The animals grow enthusiastic to get their freedom, and be the masters of themselves. They seek nothing but breaking away from tyranny, enjoy equality and fair living that have been demonstrated to be achieved by one way only; Jones's and all other human race's expulsion. Eventually, the rebellion, of the animals, succeeds. Nonetheless, things turn to be worse than before. Those animals who promised for freedom, dignity and better living turned to be as cruel as the humans they once hated- or even worse!
In my opinion, this story can be read in two different levels. The first one is the real purpose and motive of the author in which he wrote this novella. It was a sharp criticism of Stalin's and his government corruption rather than criticism of communism-as a system- as some may think. Tyranny of the Leader, corruption of government and absolute ignorance of people, were the fundamental blocks, I believe, in which Orwell built his novella upon. The kind of symbolism used and the way of description draw clearly a political allusion. In addition to this, the nature of the characters and the way they were depicted can tell you a great deal about the author's main purpose. For instance, you would know the dogs, in the novella, represent police, military or something like that! Also Squealer he would clearly be seen something like a Minister or so!
On the other level, one may look at the whole thing with totally different view; human beings, their nature and various innate desires. What may authority, power and control change in humans? How could they alter their beliefs and principles? And how harsh life would treat those who are powerless? Submission or rebellion? Many questions may arise while you read this book .......... despite its simplicity! Definitely one of the greatest books ever!"
"I would rate Animal Farm as one of my favotite books. It has a bigger story in the acual one. It describes good and bad things on making a community while still portaying a child-like story. Using pigs as dictators, Animal Farm can describe how trying to make civilization would get out of hand. Also, on how to make one work for example, everyone must help get started and stick together. Animal Farm has a lot to do with equality and the idea of being fair to everyone almost like communism. Later, more inteligent animals change the rules around just like in a society leaded by a dictator. There is always someone who is going to want more and be able to bend the rules for it. I enjoyed George Orwells idea of haveing the problem take place with animals instead of people. I felt it was easier to understand the main idea and plot but, also made it more intresting. He also presents problems that could be solved with some simple solutions that may relate to ones humans have. His style of writing lets us see how we can fix or not instigate problems with trying to start a club or even help out a community."
"This is a book I've been meaning to read for ages but never got around to - last week I not only read it but gave a lesson on the historical context for the grade 8 class, who will be reading this book and The Wave. As I found, out of the class of 24, about 20 of them had already read the book, and at least one kid knew it was an allegory of the Russian Revolution. Still, my lesson wasn't totally redundant :)
For anyone who isn't familiar with the story, Animal Farm is about the animals on a farm in England rising up against the incompetent, cruel farmer (Mr Jones, who represents the deposed Tsar, Nicholas II) and taking over the farm, renaming it Animal Farm (USSR) and - so the glorious vision intended - running it for themselves, so their lives would be better.
The vision is given to them by a pig, Old Major, who dies not long afterwards. Old Major probably represents Vladimir Lenin and Karl Marx, and it's not the socialist ideal put forward that is critiqued by this book but how that vision is corrupted by certain other characters, namely another pig called Napoleon, who represents Joseph Stalin. Napoleon chases a pig called Snowball (Leon Trotsky) off the farm with his personally trained dogs (while still just the General Secretary of the Party, Stalin recruited people who would follow him blindly, so that when Lenin died in 1924 he was able to defeat Trotsky for the leadership position and his "dogs" kept everyone else in line).
The pigs then take charge, and with their literacy skills keep changing the rules the animals established in order to suit themselves, using a pig called Squealer to convince the other animals that their memories are faulty. After all, as the drafthorse Boxer keeps saying, "Comrade Napoleon is always right".
Boxer is - for me - the most heartbreaking character in the novel. He represents the peasants, and is the most hardworking animal on the farm. He has utter faith in the leadership of Napoleon and works himself to the bone - literally. His reward is very telling, though I don't want to give it away. Most of the characters represent either a person, several people or groups of people, and for the complete list you can check it out on Wikipedia.
Orwell, while a socialist, was very cynical about Stalin's communist USSR - and for good reason! Animal Farm is a very well-written critique of how socialist ideals are corrupted by powerful people, how the uneducated masses are taken advantage of, and how the dictator or communist leaders turn into capitalists (just look at China). It's a wonderful example of how effective the allegorical style/format can be, and a well-deserved classic."
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