A Wonderful, Graphic Take …

… on Animal Farm

Orwell’s fairy tale, Animal Farm, first published in 1945, is such a wonderfully astute, clearly written study of the corruption of power and the betrayal of principles – focusing particularly on the history of the Russian Revolution – that it is not surprising that there have been so many adaptations.

In 1947, a BBC Radio version, produced by Orwell’s friend, Rayner Heppenstall, was broadcast. In 1950, Norman Pett, the creator of the famous World War II comic heroine, Jane (who gradually shed her clothes supposedly to keep up the morale of the British troops), was secretly assigned by the Foreign Office to adapt the story into a comic strip. With his collaborator Don Freeman, Pett set to work and the strip was finally published in Brazil and Burma. But it never came out in the UK.

Four years later, a CIA-financed animated film version, directed by John Halas and Joy Batchelor, appeared; in 1984 a theatrical version was staged at the National Theatre, in London. Since then there have been a number of solo shows based on the novella, while audio versions are also available (see, for instance, audible.co.uk and here).

Now Brazilian artist Odyr has fashioned the story into a graphic novel – and it makes for a sumptuous, highly unusual read for both children and adults. Previous adaptations have been tempted to tweak the plot. Most infamously, the 1954 Hollywood version, created after the CIA’s psychological warfare department obtained the film rights from Orwell’s widow, Sonia, has Benjamin, the donkey, uniting the animals at the end in a revolution that kills the dictator Napoleon and overthrows the pig regime.

In contrast, Odyr is extremely respectful of the text, though – for reasons of space – certain events and characters are omitted. Thus all the scenes involving Benjamin, Mollie, Clover and Muriel are erased – leaving the focus largely on Mr Jones, the original owner of Manor Farm, Old Major, Napoleon, Snowball, Boxer and Squealer.

Odyr’s paintings are highly original – thick brush strokes in mellow tones that are able to capture the uniqueness of each animal and the beauty of the countryside. More cartoonish line drawings add visual variety from time to time. Occasionally, one single image can occupy a whole page – as when near the start Old Major tells the animals of his strange dream of the previous night. Elsewhere, two or three images, surrounded by elegantly scripted text, occupy the space. His representations of the local farmers – as, for instance, on page 29 – with their simple realism remind me of the works of the County Durham miner-painter Norman Cornish (1919-2014).

Together, the power of the narrative and the special beauty of Odyr’s images propel the reader on a unique and compelling journey through the book.

• Animal Farm, illustrated by Odyr, is published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, of Boston and New York. It was kindly given to me earlier this year by The Orwell Society committee on my stepping down as chair after seven years in the post. It will serve as a lovely, permanent reminder for me of the happy times I spent on the committee.
• UK Edition: Animal Farm, by George Orwell, illustrated by Odyr (Penguin Classics, ISBN13: 9780241391853)