Searching for Utopia: The History of an Idea

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Description

From classical times to the present day, this highly illustrated book surveys the enduring human need to imagine and construct ideal worlds. Gregory Claeys, a leading scholar in the field, surveys the influence of the idea of utopia on history, literature, art, architecture and religious and political thought, and covers the most significant utopias throughout history, whether envisaged or actually attempted. Complete with a wealth of photographs, paintings, engravings, maps, documents, posters and film stills, the book is a compelling exploration of the rich diversity of the utopian imagination.

Reviews

'Unquestionably the best-illustrated book ever published on the history of utopianism' - History Today
'Lavishly produced wide-ranging' - Daily Mail
'A compelling exploration of the rich diversity of the utopian imagination' - The Historical Association
'Informative' - Daily Telegraph
'A magnificent picture book, gorgeously illustrating the madly protean nature of the hope and despair of humankind as it takes the measure of the gap between how things are and how they ought to be' - Times Higher Education
'(A) beautifully illustrated account of an endlessly fascinating subject' - The Tablet
'Excellent...without wishing to detract from Claeys's magisterial narrative, this book is worth purchasing for its wonderful illustrations alone' - BBC History
'An exciting and imaginative journey charting the rich diversity of the utopian imagination from antiquity to the present day' - Good Book Guide

Author Bio

Gregory Claeys has been Professor of the History of Political Thought at Royal Holloway since 1992. His main research interests lie in the fields of social and political reform movements from the 1790s to the early 20th century, with a special focus upon utopianism and early socialism.