Anthem by Ayn Rand (1938)
Anthem is a dystopian novel by Ayn Rand, written in 1937. It tells the story of Equality 7-2521, a young man living in a future in which people have lost all knowledge of individualism, science, and technology. Equality 7-2521 lives in a collectivist society where all decisions are made by a Council of Vocations and all people are assigned a job and a life partner. Equality 7-2521 is a Street Sweeper, but he dreams of becoming a Scholar. He is punished for his curiosity and independent thinking, but he continues to pursue knowledge in secret. One day, Equality 7-2521 discovers an abandoned tunnel and finds a hidden laboratory. Here, he discovers electricity and begins to experiment with it. He also discovers a work written by the "Unmentionable Times" of the past, which reveals the truth about the world he lives in. Equality 7-2521 realizes that he must escape the oppressive society and share his discoveries with the world. He and his beloved, Liberty 5-3000, flee the city and find a place of refuge in the Uncharted Forest. Here, Equality 7-2521 builds a new life for himself and Liberty 5-3000, and he vows to create a new world based on the principles of individualism and freedom.
By Ayn Rand · First published 1938 · Genre: Dystopian Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Science Fiction · 12 chapters
Contents
- PART ONE
- PART TWO
- PART THREE
- PART FOUR
- PART FIVE
- PART SIX
- PART SEVEN
- PART EIGHT
- PART NINE
- PART TEN
- PART ELEVEN
- PART TWELVE