Animal Farm: The Graphic Novel

by George Orwell

A farm is taken over by its overworked, mistreated animals. With flaming idealism and stirring slogans, they set out to create a paradise of progress, justice, and equality. Thus the stage is set for one of the most telling satiric fables ever penned –a razor-edged fairy tale for grown-ups that records the evolution from revolution against tyranny to a totalitarianism just as terrible. When Animal Farm was first published, Stalinist Russia was seen as its target. Today it is devastatingly clear that wherever and whenever freedom is attacked, under whatever banner, the cutting clarity and savage comedy of George Orwell’s masterpiece have a meaning and message still ferociously fresh.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fiction, Comics, Classics

96 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 30, 2021

About the author

Eric Arthur Blair was an English novelist, poet, essayist, journalist and critic who wrote under the pen name of George Orwell. His work is characterised by lucid prose, social criticism, opposition to all totalitarianism (both fascism and stalinism), and support of democratic socialism.

Orwell is best known for his allegorical novella Animal Farm (1945) and the dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), although his works also encompass literary criticism, poetry, fiction and polemical journalism. His non-fiction works, including The Road to Wigan Pier (1937), documenting his experience of working-class life in the industrial north of England, and Homage to Catalonia (1938), an account of his experiences soldiering for the Republican faction of the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), are as critically respected as his essays on politics, literature, language and culture.

Orwell's work remains influential in popular culture and in political culture, and the adjective "Orwellian"—describing totalitarian and authoritarian social practices—is part of the English language, like many of his neologisms, such as "Big Brother", "Thought Police", "Room 101", "Newspeak", "memory hole", "doublethink", and "thoughtcrime". In 2008, The Times named Orwell the second-greatest British writer since 1945.

Reviews

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art fits perfectly

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A faithful adaptation with a lovely impressionist style.

[Tony Laplume · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had never read Animal Farm. Now I have, at least in graphic novel form. I’ve seen many disputes that Orwell’s 1984 isn’t about communism. It is. Animal Farm certainly is. And yet there’s still the ghost of approval in the air, anytime Hollywood laments, say, the McCarthy hearings (“witch hunts”). As if support for communism were okay. That we didn’t know that was going on. And basically still does.

[Gurpreet Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

ANIMAL FARM by George Orwell
IDEALISM DECEIVED BY POWER AND CORRUPTION.
Satire on journey of Russia from Lenin to Stalin. More relevant today than ever.
When the oppressed animals of Manor Farm defeat their master, Mr. Jones, and take over the farm for themselves, they envisage it to be the beginning of independence and abundance. However, a devious and heartless elite among the animals starts to take control, and the other animals find themselves helplessly trapped as another gradually replaces one form of dictatorship. Orwell's frightening 'fairy story' is a timeless and overwhelming satire of idealism deceived by power and corruption.

[Janne Joos]

Momenteel kan ik nog niet goed zeggen wat ik precies van dit boek vond, omdat ik volgens mij nog niet alles helemaal goed begrijp.
Binnenkort wil ik graag het volledige boek Animal Farm lezen, maar dit leek me een goede eerste kennismaking met het verhaal.
De tekeningen zijn heel erg mooi! 🌳⛰️

[Annonkerd · Rating 3 out of 5]

loved the drawings but the pace at the ending of the book is so weird, within 5 pages the pigs have become humans and it’s already the end of the book. i feel like it could have been a longer and more dramatic ending like Orwell does in the book. still, amazing and beautiful drawings

[C.A. A. Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read the novella several times and it was one of the first books we did in English Literature class. When I saw this as a graphic presentation, I could not resist it. Very easy to get through and rather enjoyable if you like a graphic storyline. I would recommend it.

[Ray Smillie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Different style of art to the graphic novel 1984, but the style of art works. Like 1984, it is a satire on communism making the valid point that power corrupts under any regime. Valid today as it was when the original novel was published.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations by Odyr. Rough and moving painted lines really show the emotions and brutality going on in the farm. A recommended read!

[Jack Doherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible and faithful adaption. Beautiful illustrations that capture the emotion and support the underlying messages of the text.

[Let Stuup · Rating 4 out of 5]

Net als 1984 ook vet om deze zo te herlezen, ook mooi geïllustreerd maar vond graphic novel van 1984 net iets vetter gedaan

[Liw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning art

[Fido · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Andres Varela · Rating 4 out of 5]

La historia es brutal, vigente hasta el fin de los días y las ilustraciones esplendorosas.

[Sidney · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art matches the tone of the book nicely. I originally got this book for some of my more advanced students but it's still a good read for adults.

[Chloë Collier · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

[Olliepoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous art for any reader to enjoy along with a classic

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Animal Farm was my literature text back in secondary two and reading the graphic adaptation brought back a lot of fond memories 😌.

The essence of Animal Farm was largely captured in the graphic novel but as with all things adapted, the book is always better. The illustrations reminded me of vintage children’s picture books that I reckon are so much better than their contemporary equivalents.

Having read the book and revisiting the story again as an adult, I am in a much better position to appreciate the powerful moral message of Animal Farm. With great power, comes great responsibility indeed.

[Zefiyas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the Glencoe Literature Library version with related readings. However, I couldn't find that here. But it was an amusing read.