Volume 8 of The Complete Works of George Orwell Rejected by such eminent figures as Victor Gollancz and T.S. Eliot (for Faber & Faber), and by Jonathan Cape (influenced by 'an important official at the Ministry of Information'), Animal Farm was published to great acclaim by Martin Secker & Warburg on 17 August 1945 in an edition of 4,500 copies. Orwell's immortal satire - 'contre Stalin' as himself wrote to his French translator - is as vivid and pungent today as it was on its first publication, and can be read on many levels. Orwell subtitled the book 'A Fairy Story', a genre in which he was keenly interested. It combines the poster-paint clarity of fable with the dark and mordant tones of a bitter political allegory. Animal Farm is indisputably a masterpiece, and places Orwell firmly in the great satirical tradition of Swift and Defoe. This edition incorporates all Orwell's changes and reproduces his introduction, 'The Freedom of the press', which in the event he withdrew, and the preface to the Ukrainian edition, in its complete form, written at the request of the Ukrainian Displaced Persons Organisation in Munich. Also published here for the first time is Orwell's dramatisation of Animal Farm for BBC Radio (1947).
George Orwell
George Orwell, born Eric Arthur Blair in 1903, was an English novelist, essayist, journalist, and critic. He is best known for his works "Animal Farm" and "Nineteen Eighty-Four," which are both powerful critiques of totalitarianism and authoritarianism. Orwell's writing style is characterized by clarity, precision, and a sharp wit, making his works accessible and thought-provoking for readers.
Orwell's contributions to literature include his exploration of political and social issues, as well as his commitment to truth and honesty in writing. His works have had a lasting impact on the dystopian and political fiction genres, influencing countless authors and thinkers. "Nineteen Eighty-Four" in particular has become a classic of modern literature, with its portrayal of a bleak and oppressive future society resonating with readers around the world. Orwell's legacy as a writer and social critic continues to be celebrated and studied today for its enduring relevance and insight.
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