In Search of the Utopian States of America: Intentional Communities in Novels of the Long Nineteenth Century

This book explores the relationship between utopianism and the USA by examining novels that depict intentional communities, offering a literary perspective on communal studies and tracing the development of the utopian imagination in the 19th century.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 03 December 2021
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This captivating exploration delves into the profound connection between utopianism and the United States, shedding light on a previously unexplored literary synergy. By bringing together a diverse range of novels, including Imlays The Emigrants (1793), Hawthornes The Blithedale Romance (1852), Howlands Papas Own Girl (1874), Griggss Imperium in Imperio (1899), and Du Boiss The Quest of the Silver Fleece (1911), the book uncovers a shared narrative centered around intentional communities. Rather than presenting ideal societies, these works explore the audacious endeavors of individuals to embrace radically different lives, serving as poignant signposts in the communal history of the United States. Through insightful readings, this book offers a literary lens to communal studies, enriching our understanding of US utopianism and providing a valuable historical backdrop for those studying Pilgrims/Puritans/Founding Fathers as utopian practitioners. By highlighting the authors' assessments of the U.S.'s utopian potential and tracing the evolution of the utopian imagination across the nineteenth century, this book unveils the rich tapestry of ideas and aspirations that shaped the nation's development.

Weight: 351g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030602819
Edition number: 1st ed. 2020