<P> The novel opens in the World State city of London in AF ( After Ford ) 632 ( AD 2540 in the Gregorian calendar ) , where citizens are engineered through artificial wombs and childhood indoctrination programmes into predetermined classes ( or castes ) based on intelligence and labour . Lenina Crowne , a hatchery worker , is popular and sexually desirable , but Bernard Marx , a psychologist , is not . He is shorter in stature than the average member of his high caste , which gives him an inferiority complex . His work with sleep - learning allows him to understand , and disapprove of , his society 's methods of keeping its citizens peaceful , which includes their constant consumption of a soothing , happiness - producing drug called soma . Courting disaster , Bernard is vocal and arrogant about his criticisms , and his boss contemplates exiling him to Iceland because of his nonconformity . His only friend is Helmholtz Watson , a gifted writer who finds it difficult to use his talents creatively in their pain - free society . </P>
<P> The novel opens in the World State city of London in AF ( After Ford ) 632 ( AD 2540 in the Gregorian calendar ) , where citizens are engineered through artificial wombs and childhood indoctrination programmes into predetermined classes ( or castes ) based on intelligence and labour . Lenina Crowne , a hatchery worker , is popular and sexually desirable , but Bernard Marx , a psychologist , is not . He is shorter in stature than the average member of his high caste , which gives him an inferiority complex . His work with sleep - learning allows him to understand , and disapprove of , his society 's methods of keeping its citizens peaceful , which includes their constant consumption of a soothing , happiness - producing drug called soma . Courting disaster , Bernard is vocal and arrogant about his criticisms , and his boss contemplates exiling him to Iceland because of his nonconformity . His only friend is Helmholtz Watson , a gifted writer who finds it difficult to use his talents creatively in their pain - free society . </P>
in what year does the novel brave new world take place
in what year does the novel brave new world take place
AD 2540
AD 2540