Animal Farm

Animal Farm is a satirical allegorical novella by George Orwell, first published in 1945.

Animal Farm is a satirical allegorical novella by George Orwell, first published in 1945. It tells the story of farm animals who rebel against their human owner, only for their revolution to be corrupted by a new ruling elite.

What it is

Originally titled *Animal Farm: A Fairy Story*, the novella follows the animals of Manor Farm as they overthrow their human owner, Mr. Jones, and attempt to build an equal society based on the principles of Animalism. Over time, the pigs consolidate power, rewrite the rules, and become indistinguishable from the humans they replaced.

Why it matters

The work is widely read as a political fable about the Russian Revolution and the rise of Stalinism, critiquing totalitarianism, propaganda, and the corruption of revolutionary ideals. In Canada, it is commonly taught in schools and universities as a major work of English-language political literature.

Key details

Orwell wrote the novella during World War II, and it was first published in England on 17 August 1945 after initial rejections. It is regarded as a classic of modern political literature, known for its concise fable form and memorable slogans.