George Orwell's fable of a workers' revolution gone wrong was fueled by his intense disillusionment with Soviet Communism. Animal Farm is a nearly perfect piece of writing, both an engaging story and an allegory.

When the downtrodden beasts of Manor Farm oust their drunken human master and take over management of the land, all are awash in collectivist zeal. Everyone willingly works overtime, productivity soars, and for one brief, glorious season, every belly is full. All animals are equal. Too soon, however, the pigs, who have styled themselves leaders by virtue of their intelligence, succumb to the temptations of privilege and power. This swinish brotherhood sells out the revolution, cynically excusing their violence and greed—and the common animals find that they are no better off than in the days when humans ran the farm.