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Brave New World

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1932

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Book Brief

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Aldous Huxley

Brave New World

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1932
Book Details
Pages

288

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Futuristic World State • 26th Century

Publication Year

1932

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, a dystopian future society prioritizes stability and uniformity, achieved through the factory production of humans, who are conditioned into predetermined castes. The story follows Lenina Crowne and Bernard Marx, who visit the Savage Reservation, discovering John, born naturally to a woman from the World State. This encounter challenges the characters' views on civilization, freedom, and happiness, culminating in a profound confrontation with World Controller Mustapha Mond. Themes in this book include loss, substance use, and discussions of mental distress and self-harm.

Mysterious

Unnerving

Gritty

Reviews & Readership

4.2

1,915,433 ratings

72%

Loved it

20%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Aldous Huxley's Brave New World is lauded for its visionary depiction of a dystopian future, exploring themes of technology, control, and societal engineering. Reviewers praise its thought-provoking concepts and chilling relevance. However, some criticize its character development and prose style as secondary to its ideas, sometimes detracting from narrative engagement.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Brave New World?

Readers who enjoy dystopian narratives with philosophical undertones will appreciate Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Fans of George Orwell's 1984 and Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 will find its exploration of a controlled, pleasure-driven society both thought-provoking and engaging. Ideal for those keen on critical reflections on technology, control, and human nature.

4.2

1,915,433 ratings

72%

Loved it

20%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Character List

Bernard Marx

Bernard Marx is introduced as emotionally intense, with a substantial inferiority complex due to his small stature and rumored prenatal alcohol exposure. He is resistant to conformity and dislikes taking soma.

Lenina Crowne is a conforming member of the World State society but occasionally drawn to people outside the norm, such as Bernard Marx. She often repeats hypnopaedic mantras but shows kindness in her interactions.

John is caught between two worlds—the Savage Reservation where he was born and the World State society. He struggles to fit into either culture and seeks an escape through his interactions with Marx and Lenina.

Linda is a Beta from the World State who was lost on the Savage Reservation years before the novel begins. She struggles to adapt to life outside her original society, becoming an outcast.

Henry Foster is an important figure who embodies and fully upholds the virtues of the World State, trusted by the Director and seen as the perfect gentleman.

The Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning is a symbol of the World State's society and values, serving initially as a conduit for information about the world in *Brave New World*.

World Controller Mustapha Mond is slightly unconventional in his interest in old forbidden books but remains a firm believer in the World State system he helps control.

Book Details
Pages

288

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Futuristic World State • 26th Century

Publication Year

1932

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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