Squealer Would Probably Have Something to Say About This
Thursday, October 2, 2008 at 03:50PM I assigned George Orwell's Animal Farm for Sam's first book report this year. I read it when I was in Junior High, so it seems a little late for him to be exposed to this novelette, but there was a method to my madness. He's in his final year of home schooling, he's taking Government and, after all, it is a Presidential election year. I wanted to see what he'd do with it.
I didn't give him much information before he read it--I just handed him the book. He understands what satire is and what an allegory is and he figured out right away that it was political in nature.
Today we discussed the book and I've got to crow a little here. He was SPOT ON when it came to the symbolism, metaphors, and themes of the book. The boy can think and analyze. He was a little shaky on some of the actual details of the Russian revolution. He did know that Napoleon represented Stalin's reign and Snowball represented the opposing view of government in the struggles after the Revolution, but he didn't go so far as to identify Snowball with Trotsky. That's OK. His understanding was amazing and his observations sound. This sort of nervous, 'end of the home school experience stressed' mother was proud and relieved. Sam is a critical reader and a critical thinker. I am delighted. (that's my brag for today, here comes the rant)
I thought it might be fun to see if we could find a DVD of a made-for-TV version of Animal Farm so I logged into our local library catalog and discovered that, not only did they not have the TV movie I was looking for, to my dismay they didn't have a copy of Animal Farm either:
No copies in this library
Animal Farm
George Orwell
I was surprised, to say the least, so I clicked on the little button that invited me to "Ask A Librarian" and asked:
I am curious to learn why our library does not own a copy of Orwell’s Animal Farm. Is this a matter of policy or simply oversight?
I got a prompt reply:
We have two copies of George Orwell’s book, Animal Farm . We also have a cd audiobook and a downloadable audiobook on our website. In our catalog the book is listed as: Animal Farm: a fairy story (the 50th anniversary edition) and is located in the Adult Fiction area. Unfortunately, both copies are checked out, but I will be happy to reserve a copy for you.
It may be confusing, because the last listing in our catalog says Animal Farm “no copies in this library”. This means that one copy of the title Animal Farm , was discarded, the book was located in the Youth area and was probably discarded due to poor condition.
If I can be of any further assistance, please let me know.
I have no issues whatsoever with the librarian, mind you. Her response was appropriate and helpful. But did you notice anything that catches YOUR attention about the information in this prompt and courteous note? Does anything bother you or cause the hairs on the back of your neck stick up? It bothered me. It made me wonder.
I wondered why Animal Farm had been moved from the juvenile section to the adult section. I was also alarmed and rather shocked at the new title of the 50th anniversary edition--Animal Farm: a fairy story. A fairy story??? There is a WORLD of difference between a fairy story and a satirical allegory. It may seem like a small thing but it's not. At least not to me.
Am I the only one who finds it ironic that Animal Farm, of all books, has been called a fairy story just 50 years after it's publication? I wonder what Squealer would have to say about that. I'm sure he could explain it all in a way we would understand and accept.
Something else bothered me. (did you know this was coming?) Animal Farm is a book. A hold it in your hand book. Named Animal Farm. It may also be available as an e-book or on DVD, but those are not the exactly same as books. Not everyone has an iPod or a portable DVD player. But everyone who can read can hold a book in their hands and read it. And if you're asking about the book Animal Farm, would you necessarily assume that Animal Farm: a fairy story is the same book under another title? I guess I'm too black and white. I expect books, especially classic books, to keep their proper titles.
In the words of the Mad Hatter, "These are the things that upset me." Or in the words of Alice, "In MY world. . ."
Sigh. Well, that's my rant for today. Or at least as much as is fit to share on the blog, right Dorothy? (Who was gracious enough to serve me copious amounts of tea and listen to me rant and rave.)
Reader Comments (8)
Now I'm all primed and ready to watch tonight's Vice Presidential debate!
Hmmm...this has me thinking, Kim. I asked my librarian husband about it, but he seemed kind of indifferent without having the background as to why "a fairy story" was added to the title.
I'd be curious to know what George Orwell would have said about this whole thing.
It seems like a very justified rant to me, Kim!
I haven't read very many rants on Hiraeth. I enjoyed this one. Classic literature is kind of like hallowed ground to me, too. I don't like it when people mess around with it.
These days it seems that everything must come in the form of fairies (or barbies!). And it seems that everything must be "modernized" or somehow "altered to be better understood by the modern people". I hate that too. I'm still using the old translation of the Finnish Bible - because the new one (in my opinion) is a bit like drinking luke warm water. When they renewed our hymn book I hated it because they ALTERED THE MELODIES AND THE LYRICS! Some time before that they did the same for the Lutheran church hymn book. It's outrageous!
When I write a song I carefully select not only the words I use but also the tunes, the rythm as well as the accords. There's a reason for all of them being the way they are. And NOBODY else has any right to change one bit of it! Not now or not in 100 years. So I'd think the old hymn composers would feel just the same... And I be Orwell wouldn't be happy to have his animal farm labelled under fairy tales...
Amen.
(walking away to breathe deeply for a while)
'A Fairy Story' was part of George Orwell's original title for the book. He was being satirical even before you got to the first page!
It's one of my favourite books we studied at school here in England at the age of 14 - so it should belong in both the junior and adult sections of the library, I think.
Oh, I am so glad you took the time to clear this up for me! I had NO IDEA that was the original title! I agree with you that it belongs in both sections of the library!
As a very huge fan of Orwell (and by the way, pick up a copy of his essays -- they are excellent) I think you're spot on in your rant.
I see that VF has already pointed out that 'A Fairy Story' was part of Orwell's original title - but I would still be annoyed. I would expect the catalogue to be set up to show all the variations of a particular book that the library had to offer.
And I share your frustration about the different forms that books are offered in. I applaud the fact that books are now made much more easily available to readers with visual problems, but when I went to the library recently to pick up a book club choice, the only copy they had was audio. I accepted it, only to find when I got home that it was cassette tapes!! I don't have a cassette player, anymore, so it's completely useless to me.