In an authoritarian future America, knowledge is tightly controlled, books are prohibited. “Firemen” have been tasked, ironically, with burning all books that are found. Knowledge and entertainment is disseminated entirely through interactive television programs, played on screens the size of walls.
Guy Montag is a fireman who is dedicated to his job. But following a series of events including a suicide attempt by his wife and the disappearance of a neighbour, Guy becomes disillusioned with his work, and quits. With his colleagues in hot pursuit, he escapes the world and joins a group dedicated to the preservation of the literary and cultural heritage of humanity.
The book came out during the American “Red Scare” era, with McCarthy and his House Un-American Activities Committee hearings in full swing. This happened not long after the Nazi book burnings Europe, and it did seem like the McCarthy era would culminate in a second, much more significant book burning spree in the USA.
Relatively short, and a little disjointed, the book nevertheless is very impactful. It examines the psychae of someone who is tasked with erasing humanity’s collective conscience. The book remains timeless and eternally thought-provoking.