Animal Farm

Like most people, I read this at high school. It is one of two books (the other being Macbeth) that I actually retained any memory of.
At the time of reading this for school, we were aware it was political satire, or allegorical of the Stalinist era of Russia, but at the time we were just not clued up enough to appreciate the real genius of this book.

Yes, the basics are there to see - an animal revolution against men, pigs taking the lead, pigs distancing themselves from the other animals, living better, eating better, working less. Establishing commandments for a better way of live without humans, then slowly working their way around the commandments, and eventually changing their meanings. Pigs becoming so similar to humans that in the end, they cannot be told apart.

In re-reading this, so many years later, it becomes apparent that the simplicity is what makes this so cleverly written. It is so obvious from a few pages in that the pigs are living the high life, while the rest of the animals suffer. When the animals realise something is wrong they lack the confidence, they question their own memories and back down out of fear. They even convince themselves that their memories were incorrect, and that they were wrong.

There are a few sentences I found incredibly poignant in reading this short novel. They are the things that are the worst about communism, or Stalinism, and are perhaps not just relevant to Russia, but also the other communist countries where people suffer at the hands of a leader who takes advantage of a position of power.

“For days at a time the animals had nothing to eat but chaff and mangels. Starvation seemed to stare them in the face. It was vitally necessary to conceal this fact from the outside world.” (P50)“In April, Animal Farm was proclaimed a Republic, and it was necessary to elect a President. There was only one candidate, Napoleon, who was elected unanimously.” (P78)

It was interesting, therefore, to associate the characters with those real people of the Stalinist era. I only have a vague understanding of the political situation, so it good to piece this together in basic terms. Noted in the spoiler if for some reason you haven't read this book, and want to avoid knowing this right now!
Mr Jones - the original owner of the farm - Tsar Nicholas II; Old Major - Karl Marx; Napoleon, or course is Joseph Stalin; Snowball is Leon Trotsky, Napoleon's early rival; Boxer the hard working old horse of blind faith is a Stakhanovite worker (who are characterised as a diligent and enthusiastic worker, or a model worker); the sheep, who could be easily trained to repeat a simple sentence over and over again, drowning out and opposition speech represent state manipulation of media.

When I joined Goodreads I rated a lot of books on the basis of memory, and I put three stars on this book. Enforced reading at school will do that, I guess.

Five stars.