August 17, 2025, marks 80 years since Animal Farm's publication, prompting reflections on the enduring influence of authors such as Orwell. The unpredictability of the future raises questions about what literature might retain relevance by 2105. The piece contrasts today's evolving societal landscape, shaped by rapid technological change, with past literary works still celebrated like Animal Farm. Orwell's narratives resonate due to their truths, revealing either a lack of societal progress or the timeless nature of his political insights. Notably, 1945 was a pivotal year that laid today's foundations, highlighting significant societal transformations over the decades.
The future is unknowable terrain, and forecasts are becoming increasingly short-term. With limited capacity for predicting the future, it's hard to imagine what type of book could be relevant in 2105.
The question arises whether any author writing today will still be remembered and celebrated in 80 years' time, forcing us to imagine what our future will look like.
Why is Animal Farm still commemorated? The obvious answer is that Orwell tells us truths that continue to be relevant today, demonstrating a resistance to the passage of time.
The comparison between 1945 and 2025 highlights the radical differences in society, yet some truths from the past still resonate strongly in the present.
Collection
[
|
...
]