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  • Fahrenheit 451

  • By: Ray Bradbury
  • Narrated by: Tim Robbins
  • Length: 5 hrs and 1 min
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,125 ratings)

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Fahrenheit 451 cover art

Fahrenheit 451

By: Ray Bradbury
Narrated by: Tim Robbins
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Editorial reviews

Editors Select, October 2014 - I credit Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 as one of the books that sparked my love of reading, and now that I'm an avid listener, I'm excited to be able to experience the story anew with Academy Award-winner Tim Robbins (The Shawshank Redemption) narrating. Robbins' tone expertly mirrors the story's narrative – shifting effortlessly from somber and contemplative to suspenseful and terrifying. Each character, from the rebellious protagonist Guy Montag, to the enigmatic Clarisse McClellan, to the gruff Captain Beatty is distinct and realistic, making this frightening future seem all the more possible. Whether you enjoyed the book in a high school English class or never quite got around to it, every book lover should experience this poignant version of a dystopian classic.

—Sam, Audible Editor

Publisher's Summary

Ray Bradbury's internationally acclaimed novel Fahrenheit 451 is a masterwork of twentieth-century literature set in a bleak, dystopian future, narrated here by Academy Award-winning actor Tim Robbins.

Guy Montag is a fireman. In his world, where television rules and literature is on the brink of extinction, firemen start fires rather than put them out. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the printed book, along with the houses in which they are hidden. Montag never questions the destruction and ruin his actions produce, returning each day to his bland life and wife, Mildred, who spends all day with her television "family." But then he meets an eccentric young neighbor, Clarisse, who introduces him to a past where people didn’t live in fear and to a present where one sees the world through the ideas in books instead of the mindless chatter of television. When Mildred attempts suicide and Clarisse suddenly disappears, Montag begins to question everything he has ever known. He starts hiding books in his home, and when his pilfering is discovered, the fireman has to run for his life.

©1951 Ray Bradbury (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Critic Reviews

"Bradbury's iconic novel about the dangers of complacency and the value of curiosity gains a solid new voice with this audio performance. Tim Robbins puts his acting prowess to use here, creating superb dialogue and striding confidently through powerful speeches that celebrate books and warn against the lure of technology. Protagonist Montag burns with all the earnestness of a man eager for change; Faber's aged scholar simmers with cautious hope; Mildred's vacuous presence echoes emptily. Robbins provides the theatrical with the expected confidence, but he also makes good use of quiet in this production. He makes Bradbury's words even more powerful by remembering to pause at opportune moments to let them sink in." (AudioFile)

What listeners say about Fahrenheit 451

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

great story poorly presented

This is a great story that everyone should read (especially these days in a multimedia world which almost directly reflects the world described by Ray Bradbury). I like Tim Robbins as an actor but I am disappointed with this presentation. It is over dramatic at times with gasping and shouting and his voice choices are not as good as they could be. His female voices sound like Monty Python's Mrs Knickerbater at times.

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9 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Tim Robbins is a fantastic dramatic reader

So good. an emotional performance of brilliant subject matter. It's 67 years old and will remain just as relevant today as it was then as it will be a thousand years from now.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Best narration ever

Tim Robbins makes the listening enjoyable and entertaining. This is my 38th Audible book - best narration ever!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Everyone should read or listen to it.

I love the story- it is worth reading or listening to.
The only issue I have with this version, is the insipid and annoying voice that the narrator gives Montag’s wife, Mildred. She could have been given any number of voices but he chose this one... I personally find it a poor choice and does not reflect a greater understanding of female characters and their roles.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

a must read for the current state of politics

a must read for understanding our world and explaining the many types of censorship. :-)

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Worth the wait, loved it!

Been on my list for literally decades and it did not disappoint!!! Very visual and ever so relevant still 😁

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Pretty good

Not the easiest book to listen to compared to reading. I kept getting distracted easily. A bit like being one of the belittled characters. Got through it quite quickly though.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Bizaare

Narrator did a great job. Very different. Struggled to understand what was going on at times. I found it interesting though.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Beautifully written classic

This highly descriptive book is an important study of man’s spirit, censorship, and the costs of a society’s unthinking pursuit of happiness in a dystopian future. It has proved to be a timeless piece and is well performed here.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Stunning

70 odd years later and it’s still as relevant as ever. Tim Robbins does a great job narrating.

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