Animal Farm

To the world we all know,

which may or may not be the best world possible,

once again Springtime had come.

But all the magic of Spring was not enough to conceal the misery of Manor Farm.

Once thriving and fruitful, the farm, and its owner, Mr Jones,

had fallen on evil days.

Beset by problems of his own making, Mr Jones had turned to drink

and for his misery he had found poor company.

On the evening our story begins,

it was later than usual when Mr Jones came home from his drinking to make his rounds.

Damned old hens.

Good for nothing beasts ...

eat their heads off.

Arrguh!

On this night

all the animals had agreed that as soon as Mr Jones was in bed,

they would gather in the main barn for a secret meeting,

called by Old Major, the prize boar hog who, because of his years, was regarded by far the wisest of the animals.

The other pigs started first for the meeting being clever and fond of taking the lead.

They were followed by Boxer, largest and strongest of the horses,

and his devoted friend Benjamin, the donkey.

All the other animals, great and small, were anxious to get there.

For such a meeting had never been held before.

Old Major had been ailing

and now, he had made known, there were some things he wanted to say to his fellow animals, before it might be too late.

It took a while for all to find their seats.

The pigs had taken up the best positions immediately in front of the platform, among them Snowball,

determined to get a good view.

And Napoleon, equally determined and even less polite.

What was that?

No.

No, it wasn't Mr Jones.

At last everyone could be settled to hear Old Major.

My dear friends ...

I have lived a long life ...

I have had much time for thought as I lay alone in my stall.

I won't be with you ...

much longer ...

and before I die there's something I want to tell you.

Few of us will ever know the blessings of a peaceful old age.

You ... Boxer ...

when you have given the last of your great strength ...

What then?

Whatever we produce is taken from us.

Stolen from us ... and sold.

Our children are born ... to cold and hunger.

Look at them while you can.

You porkers ...

do you know what the future holds for you?

Do we deserve such a fate?

Is this farm too poor to support us all?

No, comrades.

Manor Farm is rich.

But we'll never get our rightful share from Farmer Jones.

Overthrow this evil tyrant ...

and we shall be rich and free.

Comrades ...

REVOLT!

But remember ...

When you have got rid of Jones ...

don't adopt his vices.

We animals ... are brothers;

large or small;

clever or simple; fur or feathers;

now and forever ...

All animals are EQUAL!

The very next morning, sooner perhaps than Old Major would have predicted,

the animals found their situation quite unbearable.

And so, almost before they realised it,

the animals had fought and won!

They had casualties to mourn, and those who died left children to be cared for.

But Manor Farm was theirs

and they lost no time in destroying everything that reminded them of hateful Mr Jones.

When it came to Mr Jones's house, the animals hesitated.

Napoleon showed the way.

But Snowball took the lead in entering the place where their tyrant had lived.

They agreed that Jones's house was no place for them.

All, that is, except Napoleon.

Meantime,

Snowball led the other animals in organising a new society which they now named Animal Farm.

So that all might see and agree the laws of Animal Farm were inscribed in a prominent place

to be remembered and obeyed forever.

No animal shall sleep in a bed.

No animal shall drink alcohol.

Four legs good, two legs bad.

Wings count as legs.

Four legs good,

two legs bad.

Four legs good,

two legs bad.

No animal shall kill another animal.

All animals are equal!

Tending the farm by themselves posed problems for the animals,

but the pigs could figure a way round every difficulty.

Boxer was the admiration of everybody.

He had been a hard worker in Jones's time but now he seemed more like three horses than one.

Instructed by Snowball, other animals worked out the rest for themselves.

And the farm work was done like magic.

The success of their efforts delighted everyone

including sly Napoleon and his constant companion Fat Pig Squealer.

That summer, the animals, without any help or any interference, made a going proposition of Animal Farm.

The fields yielded richly and they were cut and gleaned with diligence and devotion.

With the harvest safely home, the animals had time to think of the future

and, at a meeting in the big barn, many resolutions were put forward.

It was always the pigs that made the resolutions.

Comrades ... our first five months' plan ... is a farm-wide triumph.

And the time has come ... to spread the glorious news,

so that our downtrodden comrades on other farms will break their chains ... and join ... the Animal Revolution.

Go! Tell the wonders of Animal Farm to the world.

Some animals, content with their lot, were unimpressed with tales of peace and plenty.

Others, happy in their own surroundings, were alarmed at the thought of any change.

But wherever they were having a bad time, animals listened with interest.

In certain quarters the rebellious behaviour of a lot of dumb animals caused indignation and much conversation.

But nothing was done about it for the drunken Mr Jones and his cronies did not know what to do.

Snowball felt that education was the animals' next necessity.

Some of the animals were brighter than others, of course.

B, C, D.

E!

Four legs good, two legs bad.

Snowball set himself to solve the problem of power on the farm.

And so did Napoleon.

In January there came bitterly hard weather.

Inexperienced management brought shortages to Animal Farm.

But Snowball continued his thinking for the future.

And in such thoughts he was not alone!

Comrades, I have prepared a new plan for Animal Farm.

Here it is; all it needs is your vote.

At first we will have to work more and eat less.

But my plan ... will bring us electricity.

It will mean a warm barn in winter ...

A light ... in every stall ... sty and roost.

Luxury for all.

Comrades, in one short year Animal Farm will be the finest in the world.

Dreams, dreams.

A vote for my plan is a vote for the life beautiful.

It's a lie.

I promise you a four-day week.

Bosh.

Perhaps a three-day week.

Nonsense.