Anthem (Original 1938 Edition): Unabridged

He believes in a better world. One where it is not a crime …
In this dystopian society, one man stands alone. He believes in a better world. One where it is not a crime to love a woman. One where stating your idea is not a death sentence. In the dark world he lives in he is looking for a way to make it light again.The short novella, Anthem by Ayn Rand was published in 1938. Ayn submitted it two an American and an English publishing firm, but in the end the publishing firm Cassell located in England published the book. This book contains 52 pages. This book follows the life of Equality 7-2521 as he tries to survive in the dystopian society he was born into.Equality 7-2521 is the main character of the book. He has two friends, Union 5-3992 and International 4-8818. They found an entrance to an old tunnel in their assigned work area. Equality 7-2521 is a street sweeper. He is a very intelligent man, however he learned things too quickly and asked too many questions. As a result, the Council of Vocations assigned him the job of street cleaner as a punishment for his intelligence. With this newly discovered tunnel, he started preforming scientific experiments. He stole some paper and started writing his findings in a journal. While cleaning the streets Equality 7-2521 meets a woman with the name, Liberty 5-3000. The two discover that they love each other, however in their society you do not love each other, man and woman cannot even talk to each other. In his experiments Equality 7-2521 rediscovers electricity. He decides to take his finding to the World Council of Scholars, in the hope they will be impressed and amazed by his discovery. However, this is not the case. They sentence him to death. Before they could catch him, he runs into the Uncharted Forest, where he is joined by Liberty 5-3000. They live their lives together in the forest and discover what they can about life before their dystopian society.Throughout most of the people refer to themselves as “we” instead of “I.” In this society they removed the words “I,” and “You.” They believed that individuality was a sign of ego. The fact that the society, thought referring to yourself with “I” would get rid of a person’s individuality is absurd. A person’ individuality comes from the way a person acts. For example in the book, Equality 7-2521 expressed his individuality through his scientific experiments. Yes, he could not state that he, himself accomplished his experiments. But he still did it himself. It was not a group of people doing these experiments. Therefore, he was still expressing his individuality. The society did not successfully take away a person’s individuality, just by removing the words, “I” and “You.” Equality 7-2521 still found a way to express himself in his own way.This book was an enjoyable read. I liked the dystopian society. I would recommend this book to young adults. I liked that this dystopian society took a way the words “I” and “You.” While they thought that this would take away a person’s individuality it did not. I liked that the viewpoints switched from First Person to Third Person throughout the story. It provided a unique perspective. Also, I liked that the focused of the story stayed on Equality 7-2521. Yes, he feel in love with a woman, but it did not become a love story. The book stayed focused on the dystopian society and the issues that Equality 7-2521 found wrong in the society.

4.5 deep idea, not that polished execution (AmazonClassics Edition)
95% of the book denotes the lack of experience of Ayn Rand as a narrator. The plot and idea are superb, is that the exposition of the life and deeds of the protagonist, Equality 7-2521, is somewhat forced. He narrates everything as if he were addressing people not familiarized with their own dystopian society, people like us… But is better to read a great idea with a mild execution than a weak idea with flawless execution. And Ayn Rand’s idea is powerful.Civilization has stopped, apparently the reason was war, but the more you read the more you understand it was because mankind ssacrificed its soul in exchange of safe mediocrity, and lastly in the slavery of will and heart. A prison so perfect that it doesn’t require walls. Sadly the awakening of the other character, the Golden One, is so easy and simple that breaks the idea of a powerful prison preying in the collective mind. Equality 7-2521 instead awakes because he is an anomaly, he’s a monster, bigger and stronger than the rest of his brethren (a dilapidated human race), and more intelligent too. The story builds its intensity till almost the end where you read it magnificent as an anthem for free thought. To then end in a discourse a bit dreamy. I suspect there are not many diferences between our times and Ayn Rand’s times; we are living in self-imposed cages, and she was right in thinking that future is not a guaranty of a more mature society. I am glad to have read this book as an introduction to her works.The AmazonClassics edition of this book is a pleasure to read, thanks to a modern typography, a comfortable and professional formatting and the option of X-Ray, although Anthem is quite accessible I didn’t need to consult it. The lack of introductions, prologues and analysis by intellectuals is a relief as you can discover Anthem as if it had been published yesterday : ) In good taste it only has a short biography at the end.

Anthem is an old favorite and a Modern Classic
Anthem is a good story with unusual characters, plot and setting. It is also an excellent introduction to the thought of philosopher novelist Ayn Rand and the ideas of liberty in general.It is a story that begins in a captive culture without even the hint of individuality let alone of individual liberty. One man who does not even know he is a single human being because the words for it have been erased from his society, slowly discovers that he has a mind, he can learn, he can love, and he can live as something other than a cog in a mindless machinelike society. He discovers what it is to be a man. And the reader discovers the importance of having the words to describe and express individuality.This is a short interesting novella with profound implications. If you have not read it, it will be fun to read and worth the short time it takes to read. You may come to love it as some of us do and revisit it happily from time to time.Newer editions also include a copy of the older edition as it was first published in England in 1937 with editing markup for the American publication in 1946. For those interested in editing, it is a fascinating example of how to change the mood and tone of a story while leaving the plot and message intact.

Un clásico más entre las distopías

Excellent.