Utopias and Utopians: An Historical Dictionary

(Hardback)

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Description

The concept of utopia is generally attributed to Thomas More, whose fictional work, Utopia (1516), presents a place that is at once ideal and imaginary. The term means both a good place and no place, and More's work has inspired numerous political philosophers, religious leaders, and literary figures for nearly five centuries. Utopian ventures are worth close attention to help understand why some fail and others succeed, and they offer hope for an improved life on earth. This reference book is a comprehensive guide to utopian communities and their founders. While other volumes look at literary utopias or examine utopias in only one country, this work examines utopias from antiquity to the present and surveys utopian efforts around the world. Multidisciplinary in nature, the book draws on anthropology, religion, philosophy, political science, history, sociology, and literature. Included are more than 600 alphabetically arranged entries. Roughly half are short descriptions of utopian ventures and the rest are brief biographical sketches of individuals who were involved. Each entry is followed by a list of sources, and the volume concludes with a selected, general bibliography. The entries draw on a wide range of activities and institutions: from abodes of love to conservation groups; from hippie communes and fantastic entertainments to caravans and residential settlements; from garden cities to children's schools; from business schemes to spiritual encampments; from religious communities to unrealizable schemes. Entries were chosen for their illustrative value and origin and include several dystopias, literary and real, which provide an additional context for the utopian communities.

Reviews

.,."this dictionary is useful for its provision of brief focused overviews of major topics in the field and for its concise gathering of secondary materials on those topics."-Science Fiction Studies
...this dictionary is useful for its provision of brief focused overviews of major topics in the field and for its concise gathering of secondary materials on those topics.-Science Fiction Studies
Both academic and public libraries should be sure to get the book, and I think many scholars would want it on their shelves.-Utopian Studies
Recommended for libraries collecting utopian literature and thought....-Choice
This dictionary covers utopian ventures and the people who undertook them...and includes a wide range from religions, communes, and worker's settlements to architecture, conservation, national policies, novels, suicide cults, and "wildly unrealistic schemes." The scope is worldwide and throughout history...There are about 620 entries, most from one-half to one page in length, giving a summary of pertinent information and highlighting the utopian connection...An extensive general bibliography completes the book...Utopias and Utopians is an interesting book that belongs in academic and large public libraries. com.-Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin
Utopias and Utopians provides just the right mix of history and fantasy to lead readers to genuine utopias.-American Reference Books Annual
..."this dictionary is useful for its provision of brief focused overviews of major topics in the field and for its concise gathering of secondary materials on those topics."-Science Fiction Studies
"Both academic and public libraries should be sure to get the book, and I think many scholars would want it on their shelves."-Utopian Studies
"Recommended for libraries collecting utopian literature and thought...."-Choice
"Utopias and Utopians provides just the right mix of history and fantasy to lead readers to genuine utopias."-American Reference Books Annual
"This dictionary covers utopian ventures and the people who undertook them...and includes a wide range from religions, communes, and worker's settlements to architecture, conservation, national policies, novels, suicide cults, and "wildly unrealistic schemes." The scope is worldwide and throughout history...There are about 620 entries, most from one-half to one page in length, giving a summary of pertinent information and highlighting the utopian connection...An extensive general bibliography completes the book...Utopias and Utopians is an interesting book that belongs in academic and large public libraries. com."-Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin

Author Bio

RICHARD C.S. TRAHAIR is Social Research Advisor and Consulting Psychologist in the School of Sociology, Politics, and Anthropology at La Trobe University-Australia. His previous books include From Aristotelian to Reaganomics: A Dictionary of Eponyms with Biographies in the Social Sciences (Greenwood, 1994).