Anthem
Anthem by Ayn Rand is a dystopian fiction novella published by Ascent Audio in August 2023. This edition spans 112 pages and is presented in English. The narrative explores a future where individuality is suppressed, and all decisions are made collectively, stripping people of their names and values. The story follows a young man who secretly engages in scientific research, driven by a spark of individual thought, and ultimately faces dire consequences for his rebellion against a society that deems such independence sinful.
Readers will find a profound examination of individualism and the quest for personal freedom as the protagonist and his love escape into the wilderness. Together, they strive to establish a new society that embraces rediscovered individuality. The novella delves into themes of ethics and moral philosophy, reflecting on the importance of self-identity and the power of the individual. Through their journey, they confront the challenge of expressing love and the significance of the word “I,” marking a pivotal moment in their understanding of self and society.
Official synopsis Publisher
AYN RAND’S CLASSIC WORK!
Hailed as one of Russian-American writer Ayn Rand’s greatest works, Anthem, a dystopian fiction novella, was a clear predecessor to her later masterpieces, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. In it she examines a frightening future in which individuals have no name, no independence, and no values. All decisions are made by committee, all people live in collectives, and all traces of individualism have been wiped out.
A young man rebels by doing secret scientific research because the spark of individual thought and freedom still burns in him, even though he has been taught it is sinful. When his activity is discovered, he is marked for death for committing the ultimate sin. He flees into the wilderness with the girl he loves. Together they plan to establish a new society based on rediscovered individualism and they live together in the forest. Trying to express their love for one another, they at first lack the words to speak of love as individuals. When one of them discovers the word “I” they realize they have rediscovered individuality and plan a future in which they will regain it.
“My happiness is not the means to any end. It is the end. It is its own goal. It is its own purpose.” ― Ayn Rand, Anthem
Rand originally conceived of the story as a play, then decided to write for magazine publication. At her agent’s suggestion, she submitted it to book publishers and it was first published in the United Kingdom in 1938 only after her next novel, The Fountainhead, became a bestseller.
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