45 pages 1 hour read

Yevgeny Zamyatin

We

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1921

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

In the future authoritarian society of the One State, D-503, chief builder of the rocket Integral, which aims to bring other planets into the mathematically perfect happiness of the One State, is swayed from his loyalty by I-330, a woman who challenges him to break societal rules, leading him into a world of emotional turmoil and rebellion. The book contains depictions of execution and torture.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Zamyatin's We is celebrated for its pioneering dystopian vision, prefiguring Orwell and Huxley. Reviewers praise its imaginative narrative and critique of totalitarianism. However, some find its prose dense and characters underdeveloped. Mixed perspectives highlight its historical significance but note potential challenges for modern readers.

Who should read this

Who Should Read We?

Readers who enjoy dystopian literature like George Orwell's 1984 or Aldous Huxley's Brave New World would be captivated by Yevgeny Zamyatin's We. This novel appeals to those fascinated by themes of totalitarianism, individualism vs. collectivism, and the human spirit's resilience against oppressive regimes.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction

Russian Literature

Fantasy

Themes

Life/Time: The Future

Society: Politics & Government

Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Topics

History: World