It is once in a while in the history of one's literary experience that a book comes a long which is so poignant in its message, so "frightening in its implications" [New York Times], and so ironically simplistic in its word choice. One of these treasures of 20th century literature sits on my desk in front of me as I type-Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, the novel devoted to denouncing the adage, "Ignorance is bliss". This …showed first 75 words of 945 total…

…showed last 75 words of 945 total…a friend that there were people there like him, fugitives from a world of ignorance, comdemned because they were different, because they thirsted for knowledge. These people take Montag in as one of their own as they travel away from the city, never to see it again. Montag has finally found peace, at the price of his world. But maybe, he thinks, it was the world that was insane and not he? Who's to say?