“Animal House” by George Orwell was first published in 1945 and according to Orwell, the fable reflects the events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917. Orwell was a democratic socialist and a critic of Joseph Stalin, an attitude that was critically shaped by his experiences during the Spanish Civil War. The book tells the story of a group of farm animals who rebel against their human farmer, hoping to create a society where animals can be equal, free, and happy. Ultimately, buying the rebellion is betrayed, and the farm end ups in a state as bad as it was before, under the dictatorship of a pig name Napoleon.
This edition of “Animal House” is an early US edition published by Harcourt, Brace and Company of New York. The original title was “Animal Farm: A Fairy Story” but US publishers dropped the subtitle when it was published in 1946. In addition, Orwell originally wrote a preface complaining about British self-censorship and how the British people were suppressing criticism of the USSR, that was never included in editions until many decades later.
Eric Arthur Blair (1903 – 1950) is best known by his pen name George Orwell. He was an English novelist, essayist, journalist and critic. He is best known for his books “Animal Farm” and “1984” and his outspoken support of democratic socialism. In 2008, The Times ranked Orwell second among “The 50 greatest British writers since 1945”. His work remains influential in popular culture and in political culture. Orwell died from a burst artery in his lungs and is buried in Sutton Courtenay, Oxfordshire churchyard of All Saints. His gravestone bears the epitaph: “Here Lies Eric Arthur Blair, born June 25th, 1903, died January 21st, 1950” but no mention is made on the gravestone of his more famous pen name.
Condition: Olive green cloth hardbound with gold gilt text embossed on the spine. The spine shows minor edgewear to the top and bottom of the back strip and a slight slant at the top. Boards have some edgewear along the top, fading to the top inch of the front board, and minor blemishes to the front and rear boards. Corners all have slight wear but remain sharp. Spine is straight and firm with no cracking to the endpapers. Text block is solid with all pages attached with a small water stain to the lower corner (only three inside pages show stain). Endpapers show fading and there is age tanning throughout. All interior pages are clean with no tears, cracks or previous owner marks. 118 pages Dimensions: H – 7-1/2” W – 5”
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Product code: Animal buying House by Goerge Orwell, Vintage Early 1946 US Edition