Kammerat Napoleon. Illustreret af Sys Gaugin. - [FIRST DANISH EDITION OF "ANIMAL FARM"]

1947. Vilhelm Priors Forlag, 1947. Uncut in the original illustrated wrappers. Extremities somewhat worn, but otherwise fine. A few leaves with a bit of thumb-soiling, otherwise internally very nice and clean. Illustrated in colours. First Danish edition of one of the most important literary works of the 20th century, the satirical-political masterpiece that so magnificently reflects the events leading up to the Russian Revolution and brilliantly caricatures Stalinism. As Orwell himself put it, with this work, he deliberately tried "to fuse political purpose and artistic purpose into one whole". (Orwell, "Why I Write"). "Animal Farm" brilliantly portrays not only the corruption of the revolution, but also how traits of human character themselves corrupt society. The greatest flaw of revolution is not the corrupt leadership on its own, but also the greed, indifference, ignorance, shortsightedness, wickedness, etc. that govern the individuals that make up the masses. The work was written between late 1943 and early 1944, when the wartime alliance with the Soviet Union was at its height and Stalin was held in highest esteem in Britain, among both the people and intelligentsia. Not surprisingly, it was initially rejected by both British and American publishers, and the publication of it was thus delayed. When it did appear (1945), it became a great commercial success, however, probably not least due to the soon to follow Cold War. The work is generally considered one of the best and most influential literary productions of the 20th century.