Animal Farm is a short novel by George Orwell. It was written during World War II and published in 1945. It is about a group of farm animals who rebel against their farmer. They hope to create a place where the animals can be equal, free, and happy. In the end, however, they are betrayed and the farm ends up as bad it was before.  It is one of the most famous allegories about political events. It is based on Joseph Stalin's betrayal of the Russian Revolution.