1984. Skotnyy dvor Sbornik

Animal Farm is precisely the sort of book that, from time to time, takes on ever greater significance and can feel alarmingly real. The animals on the farm attempt to stage a revolt – for freedom and justice, and above all for equality and peace. But, sadly, it becomes all too clear that even amongst animals, justice is categorised into different boxes. So is freedom really not as simple as we hope, or are we ourselves part of the system that robs us of our freedom? Or do the people who ban this book from libraries really have that much power over us, or are they just people wearing "Make America Great Again" hats who, sadly, simply have the upper hand – even though they’d be better off reading a history book?

For me, no other book felt as divided within itself as this one. Thematically narrowed down to the point - yet universally understandable. Although the text is easy to read, it is difficult to see through. It is as if Orwell wanted to pour his inner turmoil about the development of the early Soviet Union into the novel - and you can feel his disappointment through the letters. The novel rightly is one of the great classics and certainly one of the books you should read at least once in your life.

The book tells the gripping story of animals on a farm who rebel against the oppression of their powerful owner and start a revolution. The revolution is led by the farm's pigs. It shows how the pigs try to develop their own power structures to improve their situation. Particularly impressive is the depiction of how propaganda and false information are used to manipulate the animals and secure control. The book vividly shows how propaganda works and how it serves to secure and consolidate power. It is a fascinating and instructive story that inspires reflection on power, manipulation, and the meaning of truth.

Already a classic by the end of the 20th century and a must read for everyone. No other book illustrates and questions the history of communism in the former Soviet Union more gripping. Motives, organisation and gradual descent into perversion and farce, find it all on "Animal Farm"!