On This Day August 17

George Orwell wrote Animal Farm at a time when the UK was in its wartime alliance with the Soviet Union and the British people and intelligentsia held Stalin in high esteem. An allegory of Marxist analysis of capitalism, Orwell had great difficulties in publishing the novel, as many were afraid that it would offend Britain's Russian war allies. Animal Farm was eventually published in England on August 17, 1945 and within two weeks it had sold out.

First edition cover

WANT MORE THINGS THAT HAPPENED ON AUGUST 17? CHECK OUT MY ONTHATDAY BLOG. HERE'S A LINK.