Anthem

Anthem, published in 1938 (10 years before Orwell’s 1984), is another story by Ayn Rand unlike any others that came before.  A story of courage among cowardice, striving among apathy, and independence from the great “we”.

In all that was left of humanity, there was only one man who dared to think, seek, and love. He lived in the dark ages of the future. In a loveless world, he dared to love the woman of his choice. In an age that had lost all trace of science and civilization, he had the courage to seek and find knowledge. But these were not the greatest crimes for which he would be hunted. He was marked for death because he had committed an unpardonable sin: He had stood forth from the mindless human herd. He was a man alone.  He had rediscovered the value of his own self and life. In an age of “we,” he had rediscovered the lost and holy word—”I”.