Animal Farm

With its immortal declaration that all animals are equal but some are more equal than others, Animal Farm stands as one of the most devastating political satires ever written. Orwell's allegorical fable of a farmyard revolution that descends into tyranny offers a razor-sharp critique of Soviet communism and the corrupting nature of power. The novella has become a core educational text worldwide, read by millions as both a compelling story and a warning about authoritarian rule.

Written near the end of the Second World War, when Britain was still allied with the Soviet Union, Animal Farm initially struggled to find a publisher willing to risk offending a wartime partner. Its publication in 1945 proved prescient, as the Cold War soon vindicated Orwell's unflinching portrayal of revolutionary ideals betrayed by those who seize power in their name.