Who Wrote Brave New World, When Was It Published, and How Long Is It?
Brave New World was written by the English writer Aldous Huxley in about four months in 1931, while he was living in the south of France. It was published in London by Chatto and Windus in 1932.
The novel is about 64,000 words long, in 18 chapters, usually around 250 to 290 pages, and most readers finish it in five to six hours.
| Fact | Answer |
|---|---|
| Author | Aldous Huxley (1894 to 1963) |
| Written | 1931, in Sanary-sur-Mer, France |
| Published | 1932, London |
| Length | About 64,000 words |
| Chapters | 18 |
| Pages | Usually about 250 to 290 |
| Reading time | About 5 to 6 hours |
| Set in | AD 2540, called 632 After Ford in the book |
| Genre | Dystopian novel, satire, science fiction |
Who was Aldous Huxley?
Aldous Huxley was born in 1894 into a famous English family of scientists and writers; his grandfather Thomas Henry Huxley was a celebrated biologist, and his brother Julian became a well-known scientist too. A serious eye illness in his youth left him nearly blind for a time. He became known in the 1920s for witty novels about English society. In 1937 he moved to California, where he lived until his death in 1963.
↑ Back to the topWhen and where was Brave New World written?
Huxley wrote the novel in about four months in 1931, at his home in Sanary-sur-Mer on the French Mediterranean coast. He began it as a parody of optimistic novels about the future, such as those of H. G. Wells, but it grew into a serious warning about where science, mass production and the pursuit of pleasure might lead. It was published in early 1932.
↑ Back to the topHow long is Brave New World?
The novel is relatively short, about 64,000 words in 18 chapters. Editions usually run between about 250 and 290 pages. The opening chapters, which tour the World State's hatchery and explain its system, are dense; the story moves faster once John the Savage appears.
↑ Back to the topWhen is Brave New World set?
The story takes place in the year AD 2540, which the World State calls 632 After Ford, counting from the introduction of Henry Ford's Model T car. Henry Ford is honored throughout the book as the founder of modern life.
↑ Back to the topWhat age is Brave New World suitable for?
Brave New World is commonly taught in high schools, usually to students aged about 15 and up. It deals openly with sexuality, drug use and death, so it suits older teenagers and adults.
↑ Back to the topMore about Brave New World
Written by Tori Books for readers and students.