Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Fahrenheit 451

Guy Montag is the protagonist of Ray Bradbury’s dystopian classic,  Fahrenheit 451. As a fireman his job is to find and destroy by fire any books that are found. Most of the population kills time by watching interactive soap operas on floor to ceiling television screens, listening to continuous music via earpiece or overdosing on sleeping pills. Talking to a neighbour who challenges him to think about society, and then witnessing a woman die rather than give up her books he is curious to find out what all the fuss is about and so he smuggles a book out of a house condemned to be burned to the ground. Montag’s chief, Beatty suspects that Montag has begun to read books and gives him a clear warning, what will Montag do? Quite a short story, it has lots of action, as well as thought provoking ideas about freedom and how we use it.

A movie of the same name was released in 1966. There is a rumoured possibility of a remake.

Check out the website commemorating the author.
Organise an inter library loan via Marrickville Library today.