Animal Farm / Nineteen Eighty-Four

In this one-two gut punch to the horrors of 20th Century totalitarianism, Orwell launches the ultimate defense of liberal democracy. In 1984, the author paints the picture of a future authoritarian state which is not content with controlling the actions of its citizens but also wished to have complete access to their thoughts. In Animal Farm, Orwell launches a devastating critique of Communism and how the best political intentions can go awry.