This year, Animal Farm celebrates its 80th anniversary – a remarkable milestone for a book that has remained in print and in the public imagination since 1945. And George Orwell’s influence is felt not only in literature but in politics, journalism, and culture – his clear-eyed observations of poverty, totalitarianism, and the corruption of ideals resonate today as much as they did in the mid-20th century.
From his earliest reporting on life in the streets and workhouses to his semi-autobiographical novels and dystopian masterpieces, Orwell had an extraordinary ability to turn lived experience into gripping, meaningful stories. Each book he wrote carries a thread of empathy, intelligence, and moral urgency, forming a body of work that is human while critical.
With that in mind, here are five of Orwell’s most acclaimed books, ranked by their Goodreads votes, from his early works to the novels that have become landmarks of modern literature.
5. Burmese Days (1934)
Orwell’s first novel draws heavily on his own experiences as a colonial officer in Burma in the 1920s. Set in a fictional outpost of the British Empire, it paints a bleak portrait of imperial life, exploring themes of racism, corruption, and moral decay. The central character, timber merchant John Flory, is torn between loyalty to the colonial system and his growing disillusionment with its injustices. While less overtly political than his later works, Burmese Days shows Orwell’s early commitment to exposing uncomfortable truths.
4. Homage to Catalonia (1938)
Part memoir, part war reportage, Homage to Catalonia recounts Orwell’s time fighting for the Republican side during the Spanish Civil War. With his trademark clarity, he details the chaos, idealism, and betrayal that marked the conflict, offering a first-hand account of the political infighting between factions on the same side.
The book is as much about the nature of propaganda and the distortion of truth as it is about the battles themselves, foreshadowing many of the ideas Orwell would later develop in his fiction.
3. Down and Out in Paris and London (1933)
Orwell’s debut work blends autobiography and social observation, chronicling his time living in poverty in two great European capitals. In Paris he works in grim restaurant kitchens, and in London he roams the streets and lodges in workhouses.
Through vivid prose, Orwell captures the indignities of destitution and the resilience of those who endure it. It’s a deeply human work that reflects his lifelong empathy for the marginalized and his belief in the importance of bearing witness.
2. Animal Farm (1945)
Published in August 1945, Animal Farm is Orwell’s allegorical critique of totalitarianism, using the story of a group of farm animals who overthrow their human owner to depict the corruption of revolutionary ideals.
Initially inspired by the events of the Russian Revolution and the rise of Stalinism, its message about the abuse of power transcends its historical moment. Lines like “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” have entered common usage, and the novella’s 80th anniversary is a reminder of its enduring resonance.
1. Nineteen Eighty-Four/1984 (1949)
Orwell’s final novel – and arguably his masterpiece – is a chilling vision of a totalitarian future where surveillance, censorship, and propaganda dominate every aspect of life. The story of Winston Smith’s quiet rebellion against Big Brother has influenced political thought, language, and literature for generations. Concepts such as “doublethink” and “thoughtcrime” have become shorthand for real-world issues of control and truth.