Looking Backward: 2000-1887

by Edward Bellamy, Matthew Beaumont (Editor)

Overview

Edward Bellamy's classic look at the future has been translated into over twenty languages and is the most widely read novel of its time. A young Boston gentleman is mysteriously transported from the nineteenth to the twenty-first century--from a world of war and want to one of peace and plenty. This brilliant vision became the blueprint of utopia that stimulated some of the greatest thinkers of our age.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199552573
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	09/14/2009
Series:	Oxford World's Classics Series
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	421,202
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.60(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Matthew Beaumont is a Lecturer in English and American Literature, University College London. He is the editor of the forthcoming A Concise Companion to Realism.

Table of Contents

Introduction by Cecilia Tichi
Suggestions for Further Reading
A Note on the Text
LOOKING BACKWARD

Editorial Reviews

First published in 1888, Bellamy's utopian novel concerns a 19th century Bostonian who awakes from a sleep to find himself in the year 2000 in a world of near-perfect cooperation and prosperity. Historian Daniel Borus adds a 28-page introduction, a chronology of Bellamy's life, a selected bibliography, and questions to consider when reading the novel. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

There is no better book than Looking Backward for understanding the intersecting private and public spheres in Victorian America. This is easily the best edition on the market, thanks to the fine introduction that puts Bellamy in the sweep of utopian writing, the nice selection of contemporary responses, and the excerpts from Bellamy’s ‘Religion of Solidarity’ and Equality.” — Richard Fox, University of Southern California

“This edition is set apart from all other editions by Alex MacDonald’s excellent introduction and annotations and an excellent selection of related texts.” — Lyman Tower Sargent, University of Missouri-St. Louis, Editor of Utopian Studies

“This edition is extremely welcome. The introduction is clear and accessible, and both situates the text historically and stresses its continuing relevance. Above all, the additional texts provide supporting material that makes this edition a truly invaluable resource.” — Ruth Levitas, University of Bristol

From the Publisher

"This edition is extremely welcome. The introduction is clear and accessible, and both situates the text historically and stresses its continuing relevance. Above all, the additional texts provide supporting material that makes this edition a truly invaluable resource."

Ruth Levitas University of Bristol

"This edition is set apart from all other editions by Alex MacDonald's excellent introduction and annotations and an excellent selection of related texts."

Lyman Tower Sargent

"There is no better book than Looking Backward for understanding the intersecting private and public spheres in Victorian America. This is easily the best edition on the market, thanks to the fine introduction that puts Bellamy in the sweep of utopian writing, the nice selection of contemporary responses, and the excerpts from Bellamy's 'Religion of Solidarity' and Equality."

Richard Fox University of Southern California