Mr. George Orwell╒s Animal Farm (Secker and Warburg, pp. 92, 6s.), described as a fairy story, is a delightfully humorous and caustic satire on the rule of the many by the few. On the Manor Farm the animals, led by two wise pigs, revolt against the dictatorship of Mr. Jones, turn him out, and proceed to run the place themselves for the sole benefit of the animal community.
At first the effort is successful, but once the pigs have tasted the sweets of leadership they begin to degenerate into the evil habits of mankind, take to drink, walk on their hind legs, and arrogate to themselves all the luxuries and benefits of the farm, leaving the other animals in even worse conditions than they had known under Mr. Jones.
There is some admirable characterisation, such as that of the heroic, stupid cart-horse Boxer, and the cynical donkey Benjamin ╤ a very amusing and intrinsically wise book.
