Looking Backward - Edward Bellamy, 1888.

Edward Bellamy’s fantasy of a socialist utopia outlined in Looking Backward is, with hindsight, ambitious and a little naive, however his depth of research and impassioned critique of contemporaneous America provide much food for thought on our current economic system.

A political manifesto thinly veiled, though admittedly the romantic sub-plot entertains thoroughly, in fiction, Bellamy’s best-known work details the journey of a wealthy though not immoral man from Boston in 1887 to the same city at the dawn of the 21st century via a deep, 112 year long, sleep. Private enterprise has disappeared in the USA of 2000 where every man and woman from the age of 21 until 45 serves the “industrial army” in some way or form, as the state, the sole capitalist, provides for them, in complete equality. Crime and injustice are unheard of, as is, seemingly by consequence, unhappiness. The author reveals this fantasy through the lengthy conversations of his protagonist, accidental time traveller Julian West, and his newfound friend Dr. Leete, whose amiable family give the 19th century Bostonian all he requires following his obvious shock.

Bellamy’s recurring amazement throughout Looking Backward is directed at his fellow man, who it seems to him must merely co-operate with each other rather than compete in order to find true happiness. He reserves blame for this though, insisting instead that it is a mistake, a blunder of gigantic proportions that has set mankind on this path; when every man has a family to feed, it is not with malicious intent that he steals the bread from another’s grasp.

The novel’s publication led to the spawning of many socialist clubs devoted to propagating the author’s ideas, however, although Bellamy foresaw credit cards, covered shopping malls and the widespread use of the radio in Looking Backward, it is, alas, with regret that his more general world plan was not more effectively realised.