Utopia

Description

Utopia is a book by Sir Thomas More, first published in 1516. A work of socio-political satire, the book is written in the form of a dialogue, and describes a fictional island society in the Atlantic Ocean. It tells the story of a traveler named Raphael Hythlodaeus, who relates his experiences and discussions with various people, including the author, Thomas More, about the island of Utopia. The island is described as having a highly organized and efficient social, political, and economic system, in which property is communal, there is no poverty or crime, and all citizens have equal opportunities. The island is governed by a council of elders, and their laws promote the common good and encourage virtue. The book also includes discussions of various political and social issues, such as war, slavery, and the distribution of wealth, and compares the systems of Utopia and Europe. The overall aim of the book is to critique the political and social conditions of More's time, and to imagine a better society that could be created if human beings were guided by reason and virtue. Although it's worth noting that the word 'utopia', invented by More, literally translates as 'nowhere', suggesting that More was aware that such a place could never exist in real life.

Part of the Harvard Classics set.

This book has 43,513 words, 58 pages in the PDF version, and was originally published in 1551. This edition by Henry Morley was first published in the 1800s.

Production notes: This ebook of Utopia was published by Global Grey in 2018, and updated on the 7th February 2023. The artwork used for the cover is 'Ships off IJsselmonde' - by Aert Anthonisz.