The Utopia Reader

by Gregory Claeys (Editor), Lyman Tower Sargent (Editor)

The Utopia Reader compiles primary texts from a variety of authors and movements in the history of theorizing utopias.

Utopianism is defined as the various ways of imagining, creating, or analyzing the ways and means of creating an ideal or alternative society. Prominent writers and scholars across history have long explored how or why to envision different ways of life. The volume includes texts from classical Greek literature, the Old Testament, and Plato’s Republic, to Sir Thomas More’s Utopia, to George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four and beyond. By balancing well-known and obscure examples, the text provides a comprehensive and definitive collection of the various ways Utopias have been conceived throughout history and how Utopian ideals have served as criticisms of existing sociocultural conditions.

This new edition includes many historically well-known works, little known but influential texts, and contemporary writings, providing an even more expansive coverage of the varieties of approaches and responses to the concept of utopia in the past, present, and even the future. In particular, the volume now includes feminist writings and work by authors of color, and contends with current concerns, such as the exploration of the ecological ideals of Utopia. Furthermore, Claeys and Sargent highlight twenty-first century trends and popular narrative explorations of Utopias through the genres of young adult dystopias, survivalist dystopias, and non-print utopias. Covering a range of original theories of utopianism and revealing the nuances and concerns of writers across history as they attempt to envision different, ideal societies, The Utopia Reader is an essential resource for anyone who envisions a better future.

Genres: Utopia, School, Philosophy, Textbooks, History, Literature, Read For School

576 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Gregory Claeys was born in France and educated in Canada and the United Kingdom. He has taught in Germany and the United States and is now Professor of the History of Political Thought at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Reviews

[Derek]

Excellent selections from the Utopian tradition.

[Yvonne]

Giving a thorough overview of what "social dreaming" can accomplish, Claeys' introductions to utopias ranging from Plato all the way to the 'future' of "social dreaming" allow for a distinct and clear overview. As it is a reader, it gives little room for critical interpretation by the editor, but that in turn allows the reader to go in blind and make up their minds without too much influence.

[Ken]

This books counts bruh I do not care. I read too many damn utopias for this not to count toward my reading goal

[sologdin]

Slick presentation of the long history of the utopian subgenre, including much ancient & medieval selections. Loses focus in the 20th century, which is more devoted to the mass production of multiple dystopias, usually in the service of cold war politics.

Used it for an undergraduate course, and it thoroughly annoyed the students, especially since the early selections are expressly religious, which offended the teabaggers who somehow made it into college. So, that's a plus.

[Marlana Portolano]

I use this book when I teach my college world lit class on utopias and dystopias in Western lit. It's a good introduction to the subject through very short excerpts, but don't expect to find whole works here.

[Susan Marie]

Excellent introduction to some of the finest Utopian literature. These were written in times when our world was a desirable one so the stories are quite interesting to read. Gives you quite a bit to think about.

[Pru]

Bellamy !!!!

[Mary Overton]

From Biblical Eden to Ursula LeGuin's Odon, with all sorts of paradises in between -- Ovid's Golden Age, where untilled earth produces corn, milk arrives in rivers, and honey drips from the holmoak tree. Prester John's magic spring which allows a man to remain age 32 however long he might live. The land of Cockaigne where the jolly people drink only wine because "Water serveth there no thing/ but for sight and for washing." Thomas More's UTOPIA (which started the Utopian genre) where "none of their cities may contain above six thousand families" and "they have no lawyers" considering them "as a sort of people whose profession it is to disguise matters." Samuel Butler's amazing parody contains the "Colleges of Unreason" where the word "idiot" is defined as "a person who forms his opinions for himself." The 19th century Shakers live in celibacy and dance like crazy to release sexual tension, yet their neighbors at Oneida practice "complex marriage," every man married to every woman. Then there are the dystopias, my favorite being Zamiatin's WE, living total transparency in their glass houses.

[Traci]

I had to read this for a recent course on Utopian theory in literature. It was a nice anthology of excerpts of collected utopian and dystopian works throughout the centuries. I have to admit that the early chapters with excerpts from Plato's Republic and Sir Thomas More's Utopia were yawn-inducing. However, the reading became interesting once we started reading about early utopian societies in America and also excerpts from Gulliver's Travels. I'm glad that my professor also chose to implement our class with novels on utopian/dystopian themes, too.

[Terri Lynn]

Slow,plodding and dull- I had to read it for a graduate seminar and struggled to stay awake. This covers different ideas about what a utopia should be from ancient times to the 20th century. I have a hard time thinking of any of them being my idea of a utopia but if you are a sexist, racist, homophobic white guy, you would love it. Or at least most of it.

[Kristen]

But what I want to know is: Where is my damn utopia?!?

[Brad]

A great anthology of utopian texts from the classical period onwards.

[Pamela]

Read part of the book for a class, but I had already bought it. I finished reading the anthology after the class. I did enjoy the various utopian ideas!

[Quinn]

Best I've come across

[Mills College Library]

809.93372 U91 2017