Bellamy, Edward

Looking Backward 2000-1887 [with Author's Postscript] [Utopian Novel]

Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and Co, 1890.

Bellamy’s landmark utopian novel imagines a technologically advanced, economically equal America of the year 2000. This early 1890 printing—with the Author’s Postscript—represents one of the most influential speculative visions of social reform in 19th-century literature.

Brown cloth with gilt spine and black front titles; 7.75 inches tall; 337 pages; v [1] 8-337 pages. The bindings are firm. Text is clean; previous owner’s signature and dated 1890; even age-toning with foxing in the gutters and the outer edges of the text. Moderate shelf handling wear with pushed spine bands and a touch of rub on the corners.

First printed in 1888 by Ticknor and Company; this is an early reprint and contains the Author's Postscript; 1890, Two Hundred and Thirty-fifth Thousand.

Referenced: BAL 956; Barron [95] 1-8

Looking Backward is a cornerstone of utopian literature, significant for its exploration of socialism and economic equality. It influenced political thought and future utopian works, inspiring debates on social reform and technological progress.

First published in 1888, the novel follows Julian West, who falls asleep in 1887 and awakens in the year 2000. The narrative envisions a society where technology eradicates poverty and inequality, structured around social justice and collective welfare. Bellamy's vision emphasizes efficient planning, technological innovation, and communal living.

The novel sparked widespread debate upon its release, leaving a lasting impact on political philosophy and discussions of societal reform.

Subjects: Social Reform, Economic Equality, Technological Progress Political Fiction, Utopian Fiction.

Item #20627

Price: $145.00