Fahrenheit 451
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| - | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{PAGENAMEE}}] [May 2007] | + | '''''Fahrenheit 451''''' is a [[dystopia]]n [[science fiction]] [[novel]] by [[Ray Bradbury]] that was published in [[1953]]. |
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| + | It is set in a society where [[censorship]] is prevalent, and moronic citizens learn only from [[television]]. Most books are banned and critical thought is suppressed. The central character, [[Guy Montag]], is employed as a "fireman" (which, in this case, means "[[book burning|book burner]]"). 451 [[Fahrenheit|degrees Fahrenheit]] is stated as "the temperature at which book-paper [[Autoignition temperature|catches fire]], and burns …". It was originally published as a shorter [[novella]], ''The Fireman'', in the February 1951 issue of ''[[Galaxy Science Fiction]]''. A [[Fahrenheit 451 (1966 film)|film adaptation]], by [[François Truffaut]], was released in 1966, and [[Fahrenheit 451 (2007 film)|another is anticipated]]. In addition to the movies, there have been at least two [[BBC Radio 4]] dramatizations, both of which follow the book very closely. | ||
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| + | The novel reflects several major concerns of the time of its writing: what Bradbury has called "the thought-destroying force" of censorship in the 1950s, the book-burnings in [[Nazi Germany]] starting in 1933, [[Josef Stalin|Stalin]]'s suppression of authors and books in the [[Soviet Union]], and the horrible consequences of the explosion of a [[nuclear weapon]]. "I meant all kinds of [[tyranny|tyrannies]] anywhere in the world at any time, right, left, or middle", Bradbury has said. | ||
| + | ==Adaptations== | ||
| + | ''[[Playhouse 90]]'' broadcast "A Sound of Different Drummers" on [[CBS]] in 1957. The script, which was written by [[Robert Alan Aurthur]], combined plot ideas from ''Fahrenheit 451'' and ''Nineteen Eighty-Four''; Bradbury sued and eventually won on appeal. A [[Fahrenheit 451 (1966 film)|film adaptation]] written and directed by [[François Truffaut]], starring [[Oskar Werner]] and [[Julie Christie]] was released in 1966.' | ||
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| + | [[BBC Radio]] produced a one-off dramatisation of the novel in 1982 It was broadcast again on February 12, 2012 on [[BBC Radio 4 Extra]]. | ||
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| + | In 1986, the novel was adapted into a computer [[text adventure]] [[Fahrenheit 451 (computer game)|game of the same name]]. | ||
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| + | The [[Off-Broadway]] theatre [[The American Place Theatre]] presented a [[one man show]] adaptation of ''Fahrenheit 451'' as a part of their 2008–2009 Literature to Life season. | ||
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| + | ''Fahrenheit 451'' inspired the [[Birmingham Repertory Theatre]] production "Time Has Fallen Asleep in the Afternoon Sunshine", which was performed at the [[Birmingham Central Library]] in April 2012. | ||
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| + | The film ''[[Equilibrium (film)|Equilibrium]]'' was heavily influenced by ''Fahrenheit 451'' and ''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four]]''. | ||
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Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian science fiction novel by Ray Bradbury that was published in 1953.
It is set in a society where censorship is prevalent, and moronic citizens learn only from television. Most books are banned and critical thought is suppressed. The central character, Guy Montag, is employed as a "fireman" (which, in this case, means "book burner"). 451 degrees Fahrenheit is stated as "the temperature at which book-paper catches fire, and burns …". It was originally published as a shorter novella, The Fireman, in the February 1951 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction. A film adaptation, by François Truffaut, was released in 1966, and another is anticipated. In addition to the movies, there have been at least two BBC Radio 4 dramatizations, both of which follow the book very closely.
The novel reflects several major concerns of the time of its writing: what Bradbury has called "the thought-destroying force" of censorship in the 1950s, the book-burnings in Nazi Germany starting in 1933, Stalin's suppression of authors and books in the Soviet Union, and the horrible consequences of the explosion of a nuclear weapon. "I meant all kinds of tyrannies anywhere in the world at any time, right, left, or middle", Bradbury has said.
Adaptations
Playhouse 90 broadcast "A Sound of Different Drummers" on CBS in 1957. The script, which was written by Robert Alan Aurthur, combined plot ideas from Fahrenheit 451 and Nineteen Eighty-Four; Bradbury sued and eventually won on appeal. A film adaptation written and directed by François Truffaut, starring Oskar Werner and Julie Christie was released in 1966.'
BBC Radio produced a one-off dramatisation of the novel in 1982 It was broadcast again on February 12, 2012 on BBC Radio 4 Extra.
In 1986, the novel was adapted into a computer text adventure game of the same name.
The Off-Broadway theatre The American Place Theatre presented a one man show adaptation of Fahrenheit 451 as a part of their 2008–2009 Literature to Life season.
Fahrenheit 451 inspired the Birmingham Repertory Theatre production "Time Has Fallen Asleep in the Afternoon Sunshine", which was performed at the Birmingham Central Library in April 2012.
The film Equilibrium was heavily influenced by Fahrenheit 451 and Nineteen Eighty-Four.
