Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian novel by Ray Bradbury, first published in 1953. The novel presents a future American society where books are outlawed and "firemen" burn any that are found. The title refers to the temperature that Bradbury understood to be the autoignition point of paper. The novel follows Guy Montag, a fireman who forsakes his world and struggles with his own morality. Montag begins to question the morality of his profession and the society in which he lives. He meets a young woman named Clarisse, who helps him to begin to understand the value of books and the power of knowledge. Montag eventually rebels against the oppressive society and becomes a work smuggler, helping to spread knowledge and understanding. He is pursued by the firemen, led by his former mentor, Captain Beatty. In the end, Montag is able to escape and finds a group of people who have dedicated their lives to preserving and protecting books.
By Ray Bradbury · First published 1953 · Genre: Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Dystopian Fiction · 3 chapters