The story begins in 1860, just before the beginning of the American Civil War, with the birth of the central character, Benjamin Button. Benjamin is born with the body and demeanor of a very old man and within a few hours is already able to talk. To dodge humiliation, Benjamin's father makes him to shave and dye his hair to make him look more like the child he is supposed to be. As the tale evolves it becomes obvious that Benjamin is aging in reverse.