-
Title of Story
-
Looking Backward 2000-1887. The Great Reorganisation Novel.
-
Attributed Author
-
Bellamy, Edward
-
Year For Sorting
-
1890
-
Story Summary
-
One of the most influential Utopias in the world spawning clubs and hundreds of similar and rejectionary stories and fan sequels. Lots of inventions.
-
Critical Introduction
-
Until I write one, here is the introduction by the author:
PREFACE HISTORICAL SECTION, SHAWMUT COLLEGE, BOSTON, DECEMBER 28, 2000.
LIVING as we do in the closing year of the twentieth century, enjoying the blessings of a social order at once so simple and logical that it seems but the triumph of common sense, it is no doubt difficult for those whose studies have not been largely historical to realise that the present organisation of society is, in its completeness, less than a century old. No historical fact is, however, better established than that till nearly the end of the nineteenth century it was the general belief that the ancient industrial system, with all its shocking social consequences, was destined to last, with possibly a little patching, to the end of time.
How strange and well night incredible does it seem that so prodigious a moral and material transforma-tion as has taken place since then could have been accomplished in so brief an interval! The readiness of which men accustom themselves, as matters of course, to improvement in their condition, which when anticipated seemed to leave nothing more to be desired, could not be more strikingly illustrated. What reflec-tion could be better calculated to moderate the enthu-siasm of reformers who count for their reward on the lively gratitude of future ages! The object of this volume is to assist persons who, while desiring to gain a more definite idea of the social contrasts between the nineteenth and twentieth centu-ries, are daunted by the formal aspect of the histories which treat of the subject. Warned by a teacher's ex-perience that learning is accounted a weariness to the flesh, the author has sought to alleviate the instruc-tive quality of the book by casting it in the form of a romantic narrative, which he would be glad to fancy not wholly devoid of interest on its own account. The reader, to whom modern social institutions and their underlying principals are matters of course, may at times find Dr. Leete's explanations of them rather trite, but it must be remembered that to Dr. Leete's guest they were not matters of course, and that this book is written for the express purpose of inducing the reader to forget for the nonce that they are so to him. One word more. The almost universal theme of the writers and orators who have celebrated this bi-millenial epoch has been the future rather than the past, not the advance that has been made, but the progress that shall be made, ever onward and upward, till the race shall achieve its ineffable destiny. This is well, wholly well, but it seems to me that nowhere can we find more solid ground for daring anticipations of human development during the next one thousand years, than by "Looking Backward" upon the progress of the last one hundred. That this volume may be so fortunate as to find readers whose interest in the subject shall incline them to overlook the deficiencies of the treatment, is the hope in which the author steps aside and leaves Mr. Julian West to speak for himself.
-
Additional Information
-
Advertisement: Every worker should buy "Looking Backward," the great reorganisation of industry novel of Edward Bellamy, which is selling by the 100,000. It depicts society with capital and labour in their proper places, with production for use not profit, with everybody working and nobody wanting, with all free and both sexes equal. It costs only 1s.; published by Reeves 185 Fleet street, London.
-
Nationality
-
American
-
Date Range
-
1890-1890
-
Links in To Be Continued
-
https://readallaboutit.com.au/#/title/56495
-
Newspaper Name Location Years
-
Brisbane Worker
