ORWELL, George
 
Animal Farm, published by Secker & Warburg in 1946.
 
Description
 
Inscribed by George Orwell, in parody of Leo Tolstoy.
Plausible connection to Richard Horatio Blair, Orwell’s adopted son; though uncertain.
Inscribed:
“For ‘Horatio’ Lo, in memory of seven was of mangles* and because— the trouble about talking— is that someone has talked of it much better. Leo / mangels*”
A unique example of Orwell’s mischievous good humour. The book is signed by Orwell as Leo, referring to Tolstoy’s opinionated essay on Shakespeare. In which, grave misreading by Tolstoy extended into a critique of Shakespeare’s work and immortality. Orwell had addressed the erroneous diatribe, later, in his own essay, Lear, Tolstoy and The Fool. Thus, the inscription carries his more solemn meaning.
The inscription addresses the Shakespearian character, Horatio; and parodies the opinion expressed in Leo Tolstoy’s critique of Shakespeare. The double hyphenation of Tolstoy’s sentences is paralleled to the same end in this inscription. Notably, Orwell mocks the mistakes, not the man himself. In addressing “Horatio” as “Leo”, Orwell highlights that Tolstoy’s alternative to eternity is to not speak, or be, at all. And here thus are connected Hamlet’s voice of man and story and the words which live long after death.
The reversal of intended meaning in Animal Farm’s seven commandments is evident also in this inscription. A self-violation akin to, ‘all animals are equal, but some more equal than others’ is used to the same effect here.
Both Orwell’s and Shakespeares works— Animal Farm, 1984, King Lear— have a thematic focus on speech and speechlessness. The same is echoed in this parody of Tolstoy.
The manner in which it is written reflects the mastery of word which Orwell possesses. In the depth of ideas expressed and their confluence to one epithet, is demonstrated a genius literary capacity.
Inscribed in Orwell’s blue fountain pen, used in the period of 1944-1948. The inscription bears his nuanced style of annotation. Perhaps the most obvious allusion is to his signing many of his letters with, “Geo” Orwell, here changed for “Leo”.