Nothing to Declare

Animal Farm by George Orwell is a classic political metaphor that tells the story of a group of farm animals who overthrow their human owner and establish a socialist government. The novel is a scathing critique of Stalinist Russia, and the events that unfold on the farm mirror the rise of the Soviet Union under Stalin. The story is told by the animal’s perspective, whilst having unique characters hoping to create a society where the animals can be equal, free, and happy. Under the leadership of the pigs, the animals establish a new order called Animalism, and everything seems to be going well at first. However, over time, the pigs become corrupted by power, and they become more and more like the humans they had originally rebelled against. They rewrite the rules to suit their own interests, oppress the other animals, and eventually become indistinguishable from their former human masters. The novel ends with the pigs and humans sharing a drink at a party, while the other animals look on in despair, realizing that their revolution has been betrayed. This book heavily appealed to me as I studied history and having looked at Stalinist Russia was intrigued to see how it was portrayed in literature form. The story is a commentary on the corruption of power, the dangers of totalitarianism, and the importance of remaining vigilant against the abuse of authority.

Reviewer: Theo Verdin-Mulot, Apsley