Book Review-07-2020: Animal Farm by George Orwell #honestbookreviews #nospoilers

Animal Farm

A Fairy Story by George Orwell

I re-read this book after ten years having learned and experienced a little more about politics, business and the real world scenario than in AD 2010. I am amazed how reading the same text after so many years in the light of new knowledge and experience can arouse such a different response to the same stimuli.

I did not know, a decade back, when I read this book that it was an allegory so I wanted to read this book again with that perspective in my mind. I had been thinking for some time that reading it now will make more sense when politics has become so polarized across the globe and this book really puts things into that perspective. Mr. George Orwell, in 1945 observed & narrated precisely, the games, the leaders of nations are playing even today.

This book is a step by step narration of the road from revolution to tyranny. Conceptualized on the 1927 Russian revolution, but then all the politics I have experienced, as a spectator so far, seems to be from a chapter or two from this small book. Be it a free - thinking society, democracy, communism, office or society, this is plainly how the people behave and land their worlds into dystopia.

While the words are used to deceive and confuse in political works, the style of writing in this one is simple, straight and to the point. No attempt has been made to suggest something. It is direct and I think that is the freedom an allegory provides. Had Mr. Orwell, in 1945, set himself upon writing a tale of Russian revolution, he would have to leave so much to the imagination and so much of the writing would have to be complex and suggestive, so an allegory seems to be perfect for this setting. You need not go back to the Russian revolution to draw comparison, you will easily find a recent incident in your own country to draw parallels from this story. The writer has left nothing to imagination.

I generally read books that are meant to be read then acted upon to improve myself. This book is one of those, which I have read and now I just need observe the shenanigans of so called “Leaders” around me in its light. I have promised myself to re-read this book after another decade. I am curious what this decade will teach me when looked from the lens of this allegory and if it will form a fresh perspective. I hope I maintain my G-mail account for this decade so that the reminder buzzes in 2030 to re-read this one.

This holy grail of political allegory is dirt cheap for Rs 68 on Kindle and only 112 pages.

Here is my subtle attempt to promote this book: The book is banned in Cuba, North Korea, Myanmar, Iran, Kenya and most Arab countries. Has been banned for quite some time in China. It is banned in the UAE not because of its content but because it has anthropomorphic talking pigs which are un-Islamic. It is also censored in Vietnam. Curious?

In conclusion

All animals are equal but some are more equal than others.

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