Published in 1945, Animal Farm is a fairy story in the style of Aesop’s fables, using animals on an English farm to mirror the history of Soviet communism. Orwell bases certain animals directly on Russian political figures that were at the centre of the Russian revolution.

Mr. Jones, for example, is the all-powerful Tzar who the animals overthrow while Napoleon and Snowball emerge as the leaders of the revolution as did their parallels, Stalin and Trotsky respectively. After their victory the animals decide to run the farm themselves on egalitarian principles.

Inspired by the example of Boxer, the hard-working horse, the cooperation prosper. The pigs become corrupted by power and a new tyranny is established under Napoleon after Snowball is driven out.

Life on the farm becomes unbearable again, with the final betrayal being made when the pigs engineer an alliance and a trading agreement with the humans. The animals’ world has come full circle; once again they are an oppressed society.

1st, 2nd July

Tam O’Shanter Urban Farm, Bidston, Wirral