George Orwell’s 'Animal Farm' is one of the most famous political allegories ever written. Published in 1945, the story of farm animals overthrowing their human masters was a direct critique of the Russian Revolution and the rise of Stalinism. However, Orwell struggled for years to get the book published. Because the UK and USSR were allies during World War II, many publishers feared the book would offend the Soviet Union. One publisher even rejected it after being advised by a government official—who was later discovered to be a Soviet spy! Orwell intended the book to show how revolutionary ideals can be corrupted by the hunger for power. Despite the initial censorship, the book became a worldwide success, and its famous line, 'All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others,' remains a biting critique of hypocrisy in politics.