Not so much a novel as, by Rand's own admission, a 'prose poem,' Anthem is a fascinating story, set in the indefinite future, about a world somewhat similar and reminiscent of Plato's "Republic", in which schooling is performed collectively, plays, stories and songs are stern and concern the importance of the state, each person is given a depersonalised designation and assigned to a particular occupation, and the word "I" is never used.
As Ayn Rand herself stated, the book has little characterisation and a very simplistic plot, but the style of writing and the visual descriptions are highly evocative, and it proves a page-turner. It is a short story, and I will not go into it in too much depth; it concerns a young man of formidable curiosity and intelligence, assigned to sweeping the streets, who makes a discovery of an electrical light-bulb from the old days. After some experimentation, he discovers how to make it light, and decides to show it to the (allegedly) omniscient World Council, who reject it for its 'uselessness'. In the meantime he discovers friendship and romantic love, both of which are considered sinful by the council (more echoes of the Republic). After some struggle, he leaves the city, discovering a beautiful old house, and vows to defend it. From now on he will be called Prometheus and his love Gaia, he will find those who are dissatisfied with life in the city and they will join him, and he will live only with those he wishes to and answer only to himself. He will speak the word that has been forbidden since the dawn of the new age: "EGO."
Anthem is a beautiful story with an uplifting message, and although it may seem rather cliche now, consider that it was originally published in 1938, well before Nineteen Eighty-Four, Brave New World, and many other similar dystopias.
I recommend this book wholeheartedly. When you've finished reading it listen to Rush's 2112 Overture, a progressive rock suite based on Anthem.
Rand was a Russian born American author who pioneered the philosophy of objectivism. Anthem is a futuristic science fiction novella. Man is in a dark ...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
Rand was a Russian born American author who pioneered the philosophy of objectivism. Anthem is a futuristic science fiction novella. Man is in a dark ...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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