Animal Farm

By: George Orwell

Narrated by: Ralph Cosham

Length: 3 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

George Orwell's classic satire of the Russian Revolution is an intimate part of our contemporary culture, quoted so often that we tend to forget who wrote the original words. It is an account of the bold struggle that transforms Mr. Jones' Manor Farm into Animal Farm, a wholly democratic society built on the credo that All Animals Are Created Equal. Out of their cleverness, the pigs Napoleon, Squealer, and Snowball emerge as leaders of the new community in a subtle evolution that bears an insidious familiarity. The climax is the brutal betrayal of the faithful horse Boxer, when totalitarian rule is re-established with the bloodstained postscript to the founding slogan: But Some Animals Are More Equal Than Others.

To supplement the full text version of George Orwell's Animal Farm, listen to the SparkNotes Guide for Animal Farm.

©1946 Harcourt Brace and Jovanich, Inc. (P)1991 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"A wise, compassionate, and illuminating fable of our times....The steadiness and lucidity of Orwell's merciless wit are reminiscent of Anatole France and even of Swift." (The New York Times Book Review)

Never trust a pig!

Okay, that is not the message of George Orwell's Animal Farm. This classic story was released 72 years ago and remains relevant today. I purchased this audio book to listen to Ralph Cosham narrate one of my favorite books. Cosham, who died in 2014, never disappoints.

Required Reading List

Orwell makes it clear that collectivism always results in some being more equal than others, and that it only brings misery for all. Entertaining and necessary read!

Animal Farm is the best Ant-communist book.

If you could sum up Animal Farm in three words, what would they be?

Witty Ant-communism

Who was your favorite character and why?

Squealer- He was tasked with doing the mental gymnastics to hew to the Party Line.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene at the end when the pigs were dancing on two feet.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No, I was more impressed by the author's fidelity o the true picture of Communism.

More Relevant in 2020

The more time that passes, it seems Animal Farm and 1984 become more and more relevant. With the overload of information nowadays, I think reading these kinds of books puts more things in perspective than any amount of news articles or shows you could possibly watch.

This book aged like a fine wine.

Read this book in my 8th grade English class in 2004. At the time, I did not understand it’s meaning and the real cost of communism. I’m really happy I circled back to it.

This book is amazing

I absolutely loved this book. It is so relevant with the turmoil of today's politics.

Classic!

I read this book in the past and decided in times like these it was very important to listen again. Highly prophetic! Everyone should read/listen to this book!

love George Orwell

I read this book in high school & enjoyed it then but listening to it now even makes it better! This and most of his works should be thought in every school! love the last line about some animals are more equal than others!

Oldie but goodie

It’s a shame we don’t have this taught/read in high school anymore. It models the tragic cycle of socialism/communism and the suffering and destruction that typically follows the societies that embrace it whole hog. Pun intended.

History echoes

Many times over, Orwell's stories have come to be in ALL continents. Two-leg creatures lack the ability of learning from history, thus, condemning themselves to repeating it. Orwell was a writer with prophetic vision.