Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’ Marks 80 Years of Relevance

August 17, 2025, marked 80 years since the first UK publication of Animal Farm by George Orwell, a political allegory that continues to make waves worldwide.

Published in 1945 after multiple rejections for its criticism of Josef Stalin, the novella achieved immediate success upon release by Secker & Warburg.  Orwell, who died in 1950 at age 46, drew on his experiences in the Spanish Civil War, where he witnessed Stalinist purges within Republican ranks.

The story describes farm animals overthrowing their human owner to establish an egalitarian society that gradually degenerates into dictatorship. Its satirical portrayal of language manipulation and the corruption of ideals remains relevant, despite contemporary political discourse. Some of its critics note that Orwell’s warning about authoritarianism, particularly how power distorts truth and language, sustains the book’s lasting appeal. The progressive alteration of the animals’ commandments, such as “No animal shall drink alcohol” becoming “No animal shall drink alcohol excessively”, illustrates how language is weaponised to legitimise corruption.

Meanwhile, other critics argue that Orwell endures not only because of his critique of power, but also because of his straightforward prose, moral clarity, and ability to tell human truths beyond ideology. His work has also been compared to Shakespeare’s due to its durability, universal themes of hope, fear, abuse, and resilience.