Book Summary –
Animal Farm is a powerful political allegory that tells the story of a group of farm animals who overthrow their human owner, Mr. Jones, in hopes of creating a society based on equality and freedom. Led initially by the visionary pig Old Major, the animals dream of a world where all are treated fairly. After the rebellion, the pigs Napoleon and Snowball take charge, but soon power begins to corrupt. Snowball is chased away, and Napoleon gradually becomes a tyrant, altering commandments, exploiting other animals, and mirroring the very oppression they fought against. Through satire, Orwell shows how noble ideals can be manipulated by those in power, exposing the dangers of totalitarianism, propaganda, and betrayal. The book remains a timeless warning about how revolutions can be hijacked when leaders place power above principles.
About the Author –
George Orwell (1903–1950), born Eric Arthur Blair, was a British novelist, essayist, and journalist known for his sharp political insight and commitment to truth and justice. His works, including Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four, remain influential for their critique of authoritarianism, surveillance, and political manipulation. Orwell’s clear, direct writing style and deep concern for social inequality and freedom of expression shaped much of his work. His experiences in colonial Burma, the Spanish Civil War, and wartime England gave him a unique perspective on power, ideology, and oppression. Today, he is regarded as one of the most important political writers of the 20th century, whose warnings remain strikingly relevant.
