X Accessible and informative overview
of the entire history of Utopia, from
Plato’s Republic to the present day
X Utopian writing attracts a broad
audience across a wide range of
subjects, from philosophy and
political thought, to classical
literature and science fiction
X Taps into the current resurgence
of interest in utopian thought,
coinciding with academic and
political debates concerning the
‘Death of Utopia’
UTOPIA
MERLIN COVERLEY
For more than 2,000 years utopian visionaries ideals in the Middle Ages. Later we see the
have sought to create a blueprint of the emergence of socialist and feminist ideas; while
ideal society: from Plato to HG Wells, from the twentieth century was to be dominated by
Cloudcuckooland to Shangri-La, the utopian expressions of totalitarian oppression. From the
impulse has generated a vast body of work, novel to the political manifesto, from satire to
encompassing philosophy and political theory, science fiction, utopias have always reflected
classical literature and science fiction. And the age that gave rise to them, and this guide
yet these utopian dreams have often turned will explore this historical context, offering both
to nightmare, as utopia gives way to its dark an analysis of the key texts and an account of
reflection, dystopia. their political and cultural background.
Utopia takes the reader on a journey through
£12 HARDBACK
these imaginary worlds, charting the progress
AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 2009
of utopian ideas from their origins within
‘Crown Octavo’ Format
the classical world, to the rebirth of utopian
(186 X 124mm) 160pp
RIGHTS: WORLD
ISBN: 978-1-84243-316-4
Dr Merlin Coverley is a writer and bookseller.
He is the author of the Pocket Essentials,
London Writing, Occult London and the
surprise bestseller, Psychogeography.
www.pocketessentials.com/ctp/utopia/
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40