Reception

Bradbury's novel Fahrenheit 451 achieves worldwide success after its publication. The author is praised in particular for his successful blend of science fiction and serious literature.

The strong focus on culture as the highest good has been seen by some contemporary critics as overly sentimental. That Bradbury portrays the reading of books as a heroic act in itself, and that the pursuit of intellectualism is seemingly proclaimed as the highest goal in life, is seen by some critics as romanticizing, by others as elitist. In addition, it is considered problematic that a struggle of the intellectual against the dumbed-down masses is portrayed here, and not a struggle of the individual against the inhuman system. Bradbury's literary style was also criticized for being a bit t...