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  • Orwell Collection

  • Animal Farm & 1984
  • By: George Orwell
  • Narrated by: Stephen Fry
  • Length: 16 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,482 ratings)

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Orwell Collection

By: George Orwell
Narrated by: Stephen Fry
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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

What listeners say about Orwell Collection

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Animal Farm is a must

animal farm is great, 1984 a bit of a slog. but i can see and understand its quality and importance

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Stephen fry can read to me anytime

I loved hearing these stories read by stephen fry. I really got into animal farm but 1984 was pretty stressful. It gave me a lot to think about

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Stephen Fry is truly amazing

I will listen to just about anything if it's read by Stephen Fry. Such an excellent orator and prolific performer, whose grasp of the English language is nothing short of amazing. For me, this makes Stephen Fry the most perfect person to read Orwell's works, and his performance here is absolutely incredible, as always.

I find Stephen's narration of these books to be strangely soothing, even though psychological impact of these works can be very confronting at times.

This is my 4th time reading 1984, twice in text and twice from Audible, from two different narrators. The other narrator did an amazing job, but as Stephen Fry is one of my favourite human beings on this planet, I find his performance here to be second to none.

As for the text itself, as Stephen said in his prologue, the relevance and importance of these books is timeless in nature, and I hope that, even in the long distant future, people will appreciate the value of what Orwell has achieved here.

In some ways it's an intentionally exaggerated warning of what could happen if intellectual discourse becomes impossible, and in another way it should make one grateful that we don't (and hopefully never will) have to live in a world as described by these works.

Absolutely incredible. Thank you Stephen, for everything you've done for the world.

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A fascinating read, makes you think!

I must admit that I had never read any of his books before but I understood Orwell had been a forward thinker and a man beyond his times. The links between these books, as different as they are, and the links to way that other world powers lead and interact with their people was very eye opening and clever. If you enjoy books of dystopian worlds like ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ then this is for you. Stephen Fry’s performance is believable and captivating.

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Brilliant stories read well

Two highly regarded stories from 20th century literature, read well by Stephen Fry. A very impactful listen.

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Can you read these and stay unaffected?

Stephen Fry, rich fruity voice, yummy.
Orwell, second or third time through for me on both, very interesting subjects, love the way he makes it so simple, beautiful. I wonder how far we have come really... how far?

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Magnificent

Extraordinary enlightening books and marvelous narration by Stephen Fry. Easily recommended for anyone both student and long time readers alike

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Steven Fry nailed it!

loved it! great story, expertly narrated by Steven thoroughly enjoyable. thought provoking. Highly recommended. The two stories are perfect together could not stop listening. perfect.

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A worthy listen - more timely than ever

Beautifully brought to life by Stephen Fry’s dulcet tones. The varied narration helps get through what can be a difficult read.

A surprisingly relevant tale all these years later.

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Excellent narration, incredible stories

I have always loved animal farm, after seeing the performance of the play at my local theatre I feel in love with the story so much that I have re-read it more than any other novel but still this incredible narration has made me reflect on things that I somehow had not considered.

For 1984 this was my first read through, as again incredible narration especially how distinct he was able to give each character. The story itself was very in depth and thought provoking especially in these times.

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