Orwell Collection

Animal Farm & 1984

By: George Orwell

Narrated by: Stephen Fry

Length: 16 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

Audible Studios presents two new recordings of George Orwell's most celebrated novels – 1984 and Animal Farm – with exclusive introductions, written and performed by Stephen Fry. 

1984

The classic dystopian social science fiction novel first published on 8th June 1949 as Orwell's ninth and final book completed in his lifetime. One of the most brilliant satires on totalitarianism and the power-hungry ever written, introducing new language as words of warning for future generations; 1984, Newspeak, Doublethink, Thought Police, Big Brother is watching you.... 

Animal Farm

One of the most influential works of the 20th century. A socio-political allegory that reflects events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and then on into the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union. Set in a farmyard, where the animals decide to seize the farmer's land and create a co-operative that reaps the benefits of their combined labours. Four legs good, two legs bad....

About the narrator

Stephen Fry is an English actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, television presenter, film director and all-round national treasure. Whilst at university, Fry became involved with the Cambridge Footlights, where he met his long-time collaborator and friend Hugh Laurie. As half of the comic double act Fry and Laurie, he co-wrote and co-starred in A Bit of Fry & Laurie and Jeeves and Wooster. Fry’s acting roles include Blackadder, Kingdom, Bones, V for Vendetta, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows and The Hobbit trilogy. He has written and presented several documentary series and as a proudly out gay man, the award-winning Out There, documenting the lives of lesbian, bisexual gay and transgender people around the world is part of his 30-year advocacy of the rights of the LGBT community. Fry has written four novels, The Liar, The Hippopotamus (made in to a feature film in 2018), Making History and The Stars’ Tennis Balls. Translated into many languages, they have never been out of print. The most recently published works are Mythos and Heroes, constituting the first two parts of what will be a trilogy retelling the Greeks myths from the Creation to the aftermath of the Trojan War. Troy was published in November 2020.

Includes original theme music by renowned composer Carly Paradis, who is known for scoring the BBC’s Line of Duty and Netflix’s production of The Innocents. Featuring strings performed by Robert Ames, co-founder of the world-famous London Contemporary Orchestra. 

Public Domain (P)2021 Audible, Ltd

A must read for all

Most books have an impact some books have a meteor like impact.
This one blew my mind. With all the crazy stuff today who would have thought it was a give that it would be attempted yet again.
Love this book listened to it 3 time and the silky voice of mr Fry is just what it required.

simply amazing

nobody can read this better than fry! just enjoy these iconic works and remember them well so you can quote the hell out of them when necessary ;)

George Orwell was very much indeed a prophet!

The narration by Stephen Fry is exceptional and his performance is worth the Audible credit alone. I had forgotten how depressing 1984 was. Perhaps for very similar reasons, I'm finding 2021 quite disturbing and depressing. The fact is, WE ARE living in ORWELLIAN times and I fear there is no turning back. Highly recommended.

Distressingly plausible

As usual, Stephen Fry does a great job, both introducing and performing two almost timeless pieces.

I find 1984 especially pertinent, in which Orwell portraits a dystopian future-that-might-become.

And while his warning is around 70 years old, it is still valid because we're not out of the woods im that regard. A lot of Engsoc and Newspeak can be seen today in Western culture, not literally but characteristically.

Orwell does not offer a solution, he actually points out that getting out may be quite impossible if the situation gets bad enough. So, as always, vigilance is the price of freedom, forever.

Great bundle

The performance is great.
Animal farm - once you get the main idea there’s nothing surprising in the book, but since it’s written very well it’s still nice to listen to.
1984 - takes a while to pick up, but I eventually became hooked and wanted to keep listening. Has some very interesting concepts and really makes you think.

Classics

Both stories contained in this collection will forever remain classics.
With Stephen Fry’s immaculate narration they are elevated even further.

The more things change…

Exceeded my expectations

Stephen Fry is brilliant - makes the two stories come alive without taking the focus out of the narrative.

so topical

i was very late to read these books but it didn't matter at all. there's nothing obsolete about them, they're highly topical these days, the author's language is beautiful and mr. fry's performance is as always impeccable.

Never gets old

It’s amazing to go back to something you’ve read in your youth and find it even more relevant. Stephen Fry is the most amazing narrator.

Outstanding performance for an incredible novel!

Stephen Fry expertly brings to life Orwell's masterpieces with an utterly captivating performance. One of the most mesmerising audiobooks I've listened to in a long time.