Inspiration:
Darkness at Noon by Arthur Koestler
Early Works by Bradbury That Lead to Fahrenheit 451:
1. Where Ignorant Armies Clash by Night: exists only in a partial outline and partial draft, most likely produced in 1946-1947, and explores a society that requires the existence of assassins - killers who also destroy books. Although Bradbury never completed this work, the idea to burn Matthew Arnold's poetry became a seed which grows in F451
2. "Usher II" of The Martian Chronicles: published in a collection of short stories in 1950, "Usher II" develops the idea of destroying society through the destruction of society's most precious artifacts (including books and art), but takes it a step further than in his previous unpublished text Where Ignorant Armies Clash by Night. In this work, Bradbury's protagonist exacts revenge against those in charge of destroying literature by killing them
3. "The Pedestrian": published in 1950 and was inspired by a real-life encounter in 1949 in which Bradbury found himself being questioned by a suspicious policeman while Bradbury was taking an evening walk. Bradbury found the experience so absurd that he took it a step further with his short story and has his protagonist jailed for performing the same offense - walking. Although the idea of being arrested for walking at night is ridiculous in and of itself, the sinister undertone present throughout this story raises questions about the consequences of non-conformity
Darkness at Noon by Arthur Koestler
Early Works by Bradbury That Lead to Fahrenheit 451:
1. Where Ignorant Armies Clash by Night: exists only in a partial outline and partial draft, most likely produced in 1946-1947, and explores a society that requires the existence of assassins - killers who also destroy books. Although Bradbury never completed this work, the idea to burn Matthew Arnold's poetry became a seed which grows in F451
2. "Usher II" of The Martian Chronicles: published in a collection of short stories in 1950, "Usher II" develops the idea of destroying society through the destruction of society's most precious artifacts (including books and art), but takes it a step further than in his previous unpublished text Where Ignorant Armies Clash by Night. In this work, Bradbury's protagonist exacts revenge against those in charge of destroying literature by killing them
3. "The Pedestrian": published in 1950 and was inspired by a real-life encounter in 1949 in which Bradbury found himself being questioned by a suspicious policeman while Bradbury was taking an evening walk. Bradbury found the experience so absurd that he took it a step further with his short story and has his protagonist jailed for performing the same offense - walking. Although the idea of being arrested for walking at night is ridiculous in and of itself, the sinister undertone present throughout this story raises questions about the consequences of non-conformity
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A Timeline of the Production of Fahrenheit 451:
It is absolutely fascinating to follow the trail of Bradbury's thought process while writing this work. He was known to write in quick bursts; in fact, the early version of Fahrenheit 451, "Long After Midnight," (eventually renamed "The Fireman") was written in only nine days of frantic work. Moreover, he was also known to revise his work and/or to reuse characters, themes, and ideas. For an interactive timeline, see O'Haver's Fahrenheit 451 Timeline, which includes a twelve minute interview with Bradbury who discusses the origins of some of his most famous characters.
It is absolutely fascinating to follow the trail of Bradbury's thought process while writing this work. He was known to write in quick bursts; in fact, the early version of Fahrenheit 451, "Long After Midnight," (eventually renamed "The Fireman") was written in only nine days of frantic work. Moreover, he was also known to revise his work and/or to reuse characters, themes, and ideas. For an interactive timeline, see O'Haver's Fahrenheit 451 Timeline, which includes a twelve minute interview with Bradbury who discusses the origins of some of his most famous characters.
