Ehsan read and liked Lyman Phillips's review of Animal Farm:

"This is a lovely Folio Society slip covered edition of Animal Farm, with pen and wash illustrations inside and out. A very fine example of the bookmakers art.

It has been way too long since I have read Animal Farm. Probably not since I wa...more This is a lovely Folio Society slip covered edition of Animal Farm, with pen and wash illustrations inside and out. A very fine example of the bookmakers art.

It has been way too long since I have read Animal Farm. Probably not since I was a teen. It appealed to my young know-it-all teenaged sensibilities. Only then, we were poking fun at the commies – the Russkies and the Red Chinese. Which makes some sense, since this was an allegory on the Russian Revolution.

Oh, how times have changed. Today, I read it, and I feel more of a chill because it is a dire warning about our own government. We are led by a government that is changing the rules as it goes along. It dangles the boogeyman of Osama Bi Laden to try and frighten us into following whatever it says. It feels it is beholden only unto itself.

Is Animal Farm that relevant? You be the judge.

This is the story of Manor Farm, which is taken over by the animals, led by the pigs. The pigs teach a song, “Beasts of England” and develop the Seven Principles of Animalism – the seven commandments, or the animal bill of rights (so to speak).

So far, so good, eh?

When Napoleon Pig and Snowball disagree over building a windmill to benefit everyone with light and energy, they decide to have a civil debate. Snowball is eloquent and seems to convince the crowd. Napoleon makes a lame retort, and then has his soldiers – the dogs – chase Snowball. Napoleon then says he is in control, for the good of all the animals, and there will be no more meetings.

Later, whenever anything goes wrong, it is the fault of Snowball, who has snuck in and done the dastardly deed, no matter how improbable. Napoleon uses the fear of Snowball’s treachery to strengthen his stranglehold on the animals.

This seems destined to go on forever, but Napoleon’s hubris soon shows the other animals his true colors. It is all about him and the other pigs.

Reading this novel (very short) gave me the chills.

Orwell was warning us about dictatorships, but it seems like he is warning us about our own government.

Read this book, and then decide for yourself.
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