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Animal Farm: Centennial Edition
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| Part No: | 0452284244 |
| Manufacturer: | Plume |
| MFG Part: | |
| Customer Rating: | 4.5 / 5.0 |
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- ISBN13: 9780452284241
- Condition: New
- Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
As ferociously fresh as it was more than a half century ago, this remarkable allegory of a downtrodden society of overworked, mistreated animals, and their quest to create a paradise of progress, justice, and equality is one of the most scathing satires ever published. As we witness the rise and bloody fall of the revolutionary animals, we begin to recognize the seeds of totalitarianism in the most idealistic organization; and in our most charismatic leaders, the souls of our cruelest oppressors.
With a new forward by Gore Vidal.
Since its publication in 1946, George Orwell's fable of a workers' revolution gone wrong has rivaled Hemingway's
The Old Man and the Sea as the Shortest Serious Novel It's OK to Write a Book Report About. (The latter is three pages longer and less fun to read.) Fueled by Orwell's intense disillusionment with Soviet Communism,
Animal Farm is a nearly perfect piece of writing, both an engaging story and an allegory that actually works. When the downtrodden beasts of Manor Farm oust their drunken human master and take over management of the land, all are awash in collectivist zeal. Everyone willingly works overtime, productivity soars, and for one brief, glorious season, every belly is full. The animals' Seven Commandment credo is painted in big white letters on the barn. All animals are equal. No animal shall drink alcohol, wear clothes, sleep in a bed, or kill a fellow four-footed creature. Those that go upon four legs or wings are friends and the two-legged are, by definition, the enemy. Too soon, however, the pigs, who have styled themselves leaders by virtue of their intelligence, succumb to the temptations of privilege and power. "We pigs are brainworkers. The whole management and organisation of the farm depend on us. Day and night, we are watching over your welfare. It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples." While this swinish brotherhood sells out the revolution, cynically editing the Seven Commandments to excuse their violence and greed, the common animals are once again left hungry and exhausted, no better off than in the days when humans ran the farm. Satire
Animal Farm may be, but it's a stony reader who remains unmoved when the stalwart workhorse, Boxer, having given his all to his comrades, is sold to the glue factory to buy booze for the pigs. Orwell's view of Communism is bleak indeed, but given the history of the Russian people since 1917, his pessimism has an air of prophecy.
--Joyce Thompson
| More Profound in 2010 American Obamaland | 2010-08-21 | 5 / 5 |
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Having read this book 45 years ago I now see it is far more profound today in 2010 America than in the 1940's. Sitting securely in a free market Capitalist United States in the 60's, I merely enjoyed this book and thought to myself "Thank God this could NEVER happen in America". Back then I was glad our limited government (although growing too big) was keeping an eye out for monopolies and other sins of capitalism but they kept out of the way of free-market enterprise and the entrepreneurship of the average citizen. I trusted politicians back then to keep the peace and HELP the country's private sector and big business produce wealth for private use and distribution etc., you know, capitalism that made this country so great. Yes, I was taught the constitution in school and became very proud of the American way and her founders.
Today everything has changed in America and this book describes exactly what is happening in this country just without Orwell even being alive to appreciate how right he was. The sad thing is this: Orwell (a devout democratic socialist) died believing that he had simply, and masterfully shown in his book what happened to the Soviet Union under "uniquely" corrupt leaders, Stalin, Lenin and Marx; i.e. trying to say that IF only socialism were done "correctly" it was the best system. BUT because those three men were uniquely corrupt men, then socialism lead (unnecessarily) to Totalitarianism. Orwell truly believed however that if not for "them" (they were unique, and not representative of 'all' men) everything about socialism and communism would have worked out fine.
Scholars argue that Orwell's book is really a great defense of capitalism, just quite unintended to be by the author. It is a defense of capitalism in a back-handed sort of way, But Orwell clearly thought that he was just sending a warning to socialists like himself to be careful not to let this happen. The beauty of the book is that it really does describe what will happen when capitalism is replaced with socialism. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely - however this is not "unique" to some men but all men. Unfortunately Orwell is clearly blind to the facts of historical reality. He has religous faith in his own concepts.
The great lesson of this book (Capitalism is better than Socialism) is obfuscated by the (early in the book) characterization of the capitalists as "Alcoholics". This is, by the way, how we know that Orwell despised capitalism and establishes beyond doubt he hates the free market system. He in no way advocates for the American way, he is quite anti-American to be sure. He very unceremoniously dismisses all capitalists in one prejudiced swipe of the brush stroke "alcoholic". Hardly a fair treatment of such a complex system and one so historically successful. None-the-less THE ingenious question that this book will cause every reader to ask themselves is this: Do you think all men are corrupt and need policing, or only some? Orwell answers himself and says "only some". He never gave up his position on the potential ability of socialism to create Utopia. He simply believed IF the right men were in charge then Utopia would last.
Since historical fact shows inevitably all socialist systems (Utopia) lead to totalitarianism (Dystopia) the book falls short of greatness. History shows it is not just some but all men will devolve into their lowest form when left unchecked. By creating a capitalist straw-man then burning it down so easily he belies his bias and shows his colors. Too bad Orwell, you shouldn't have done that, it's intellectually lazy and actually makes his book very much like the character "Squealer", the propagandist.
Finally the characters in this book remind me of current politicians and organizations: Obama - "Old Major" and Harry Reid - "Napolean" and Pelosi - "Snowball" and MSNBC - "Squealer"
I highly reccomend this book to both Conservatives and Progressives alike and challenge someone to write a book that treats the Capitalists fairly and displays how the U.S. Constitution was designed to police free-market capitalism. America's government worked effectively as a small police force until progressiveism infiltrated and now brings in socialism. Orwell got everything right except that. Insanity is doing the same thing again and expecting a different result. |
| Daughter's book report | 2010-08-12 | 4 / 5 |
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| Got this book for my daughter's book report. She says it's better than Jane Eyre!! |
| True Masterpiece of English Literature | 2010-08-10 | 5 / 5 |
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| Somehow, I never had to read this book in school and just finally got around to reading it. I surprised how short the book was (it can be read in one sitting) and how clear and lucid the writing was. It is a very fast paced story that is really fun to read. Despite its relative brevity, the allusions and allegory are very deep and thought provoking. The lessons drawn from this book are still applicable today. A must read for everyone. |
| a must have | 2010-07-21 | 4 / 5 |
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| if you know anything about how wrong socialism and communism are, or even if you don't this book is a staple you have to read it to know anything |
| This book... | 2010-07-18 | 5 / 5 |
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| causes you to appreciate your freedoms and realize what could very easily happen if you don't. |
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