Question: fahrenheit 451 what year does it take place

title: Fahrenheit 451
text: In the following days , while at work with the other firemen ransacking the book - filled house of an old woman before the inevitable burning , Montag steals a book before any of his coworkers notice . The woman refuses to leave her house and her books , choosing instead to light a match and burn herself alive . Montag returns home jarred by the woman 's suicide . While getting ready for bed , he hides the stolen book under his pillow . Still shaken by the night 's events , he attempts to make conversation with Mildred , starting by asking her when they first met and where . Mildred goes to answer , but immediately forgets . As she laughs off her ignorance and heads for the bathroom to take more sleeping pills , Montag realizes just how much Mildred 's sleeping pill addiction , love of interactive entertainment , and fast driving has ruined her mind and their marriage . Later , as Mildred is sleeping , Montag wakes her up and asks her if she has seen or heard anything about Clarisse McClellan . Mildred initially brushes off the question until she finally reveals what happened : Clarisse 's family moved away after Clarisse got hit by a speeding car and died four days ago . Dismayed by her failure to mention this earlier , Montag uneasily tries to fall asleep . Outside he suspects the presence of `` The Hound '' , an eight - legged robotic dog - like creature that resides in the firehouse and aids the firemen .