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Η νέα ουτοπία
Στις παραστατικές περιγραφές της Νέας Ουτοπίας του Jerome K. Jerome – από τα οικοδομικά τετράγωνα με τα πανομοιότυπα κτίρια και το κάψιμο των βιβλίων, μέχρι την στρατιωτικού τύπου ένδυση και την αριθμοποιήση των ανθρώπων – είναι μάλλον αδύνατο να παραβλέψει κανείς μια εύστοχη προεικόνιση των ολοκληρωτικών καθεστώτων του 20ού αιώνα, θαρρείς και οι δικτάτορες του υπαρκτού σοσιαλισμού και εθνικοσοσιαλισμού μελέτησαν τη νουβέλα και ξεσήκωσαν ιδέες και πρακτικές.
(Παρουσίαση από το οπισθόφυλλο)
(Παρουσίαση από το οπισθόφυλλο)
52 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1891
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327 people want to read
About the author
Jerome K. Jerome
871 books1,365 followersJerome Klapka Jerome was an English writer and humorist, best known for the comic travelogue Three Men in a Boat (1889). Other works include the essay collections Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow (1886) and Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow; Three Men on the Bummel, a sequel to Three Men in a Boat; and several other novels. Jerome was born in Walsall, England, and, although he was able to attend grammar school, his family suffered from poverty at times, as did he as a young man trying to earn a living in various occupations. In his twenties, he was able to publish some work, and success followed. He married in 1888, and the honeymoon was spent on a boat on the River Thames; he published Three Men in a Boat soon afterwards. He continued to write fiction, non-fiction and plays over the next few decades, though never with the same level of success.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
July 5, 2017
The reference for this short story came across when I was reading about Zamaytin's novel "We" on Wikipedia. According to it, this short story seems to be the inspiration for "We". So I searched for it and found it online.
In this story, the narrator dreams of the world of twenty ninth century after meeting a few socialist friends who have been in favor of equality in the society. What he dreams of is a kind of society where all the differences have been abolished and all people are equal. There is no difference between men and women, all of them wear same uniform and have same length of black hair. The system of marriage has been abolished and they live as one large family where they are provided for everything by the State. There is no form of entertainment and no stores for shopping. Even the people are "washed up" twice a day by the State only. The whole process of bearing of children takes place under medical supervision and after their birth, the children are kept in special nurseries till the age of fourteen.
This story was first published in 1891 way before "We", "Brave New World" or "1984" and it's glimpses can be found in these latter works too though the story is written in a much lighter manner.
Some quotes:
I looked at the faces of the men and women that were passing. There was a patient, almost pathetic, expression upon them all. I wondered where I had seen that look before; it seemed familiar to me.
All at once I remembered. It was just the quiet, troubled, wondering expression that I had always noticed upon the faces of the horses and oxen that we used to breed and keep in the world.
And after he woke up from the dream:
Through the open window I hear the rush and roar of old life’s battle. Men are fighting, striving, carving out each man his own life with the sword of strength and will. Men are laughing, grieving, loving, doing wrong deeds, doing great deeds, — falling, struggling, helping one another — living!
From the quotes it is clear that Jerome was wary of the whole idea of Utopia and imagined such a society to be devoid of life itself. Interestingly, H.G.Wells is considered to be the inspiration for this story by Jerome.
It is a very short and very good read.
In this story, the narrator dreams of the world of twenty ninth century after meeting a few socialist friends who have been in favor of equality in the society. What he dreams of is a kind of society where all the differences have been abolished and all people are equal. There is no difference between men and women, all of them wear same uniform and have same length of black hair. The system of marriage has been abolished and they live as one large family where they are provided for everything by the State. There is no form of entertainment and no stores for shopping. Even the people are "washed up" twice a day by the State only. The whole process of bearing of children takes place under medical supervision and after their birth, the children are kept in special nurseries till the age of fourteen.
This story was first published in 1891 way before "We", "Brave New World" or "1984" and it's glimpses can be found in these latter works too though the story is written in a much lighter manner.
Some quotes:
I looked at the faces of the men and women that were passing. There was a patient, almost pathetic, expression upon them all. I wondered where I had seen that look before; it seemed familiar to me.
All at once I remembered. It was just the quiet, troubled, wondering expression that I had always noticed upon the faces of the horses and oxen that we used to breed and keep in the world.
And after he woke up from the dream:
Through the open window I hear the rush and roar of old life’s battle. Men are fighting, striving, carving out each man his own life with the sword of strength and will. Men are laughing, grieving, loving, doing wrong deeds, doing great deeds, — falling, struggling, helping one another — living!
From the quotes it is clear that Jerome was wary of the whole idea of Utopia and imagined such a society to be devoid of life itself. Interestingly, H.G.Wells is considered to be the inspiration for this story by Jerome.
It is a very short and very good read.
October 20, 2009
This can be read online at:
http://www.libertarian.co.uk/lapubs/c...
It seems to me that the current administration wants equality in all things. This little pamphlet looks into a future (the 29th century) and what life is like when there is equality in all things. I for one like the inequalities that we currently have. It is good for man to have something to strive for in life!
http://www.libertarian.co.uk/lapubs/c...
It seems to me that the current administration wants equality in all things. This little pamphlet looks into a future (the 29th century) and what life is like when there is equality in all things. I for one like the inequalities that we currently have. It is good for man to have something to strive for in life!
March 4, 2018
A beautiful, highly imaginative and extremely thought-provoking short story that envisions the darkest consequences imaginable when the strive for equality has gone too far and when absolute social equality is finally attained.
July 18, 2022
It is often said that Yevgeny Zamyatin’s dystopian novel We begot A Brave New World in its demented rush for absolute equality in all outcomes. However this one might be the grandaddy of them all and having just read Three Men in a Boat it was an interesting discovery coming as it does by the same author just two years later. Montmorency even gets a shout out.
After a meeting of socialists the narrator experiences a Rip Van Winkle style sleep and wakes in a future that aspires to be completely egalitarian. He explores the maddening implications of this before happily awaking in his late 19th century present and all its many comforting imperfections.
I would suggest that Kurt Vonnegut’s excellent short story Harrison Bergeron was also influenced by this one; dealing as it does with the hampering of any gifts or qualities. In Jerome’s piece healthy limbs are removed and brains handicapped and Vonnegut similarly stymies his characters.
Spot the increasing creep of this imagined dystopia’s rationale into our own 2022 society as we too worship “The Destiny of Humanity” and similarly utopian projects.
“We raised our glasses and drank to EQUALITY, sacred EQUALITY; and then ordered the waiter to bring us Green Char- treuse and more cigars.”
“Men thought more of their wives and families than they did of the State. They wished to labour for the benefit of their little circle of beloved ones rather than for the good of the community. They cared more for the future of their children than for the Destiny of Humanity. The ties of love and blood bound men together fast in little groups instead of in one great whole.”
"Yes; when a man is much above the average size and strength, we cut one of his legs or arms off, so as to make things more equal; we lop him down a bit, as it were. Nature, you see, is somewhat behind the times; but we do what we can to put her straight."
"I have sometimes thought," mused the old gentleman, "that it was a pity we could not level up sometimes, instead of always levelling down; but, of course, that is impossible."
“There is no beauty in the country now whatever. We have abolished beauty; it interfered with our equality. It was not fair that some people should live among lovely scenery, and other upon barren moors. So we have made it all pretty much alike everywhere now, and no place can lord it over another."
“All lands are exactly the same. The whole world is all one people now--one language, one law, one life."
After a meeting of socialists the narrator experiences a Rip Van Winkle style sleep and wakes in a future that aspires to be completely egalitarian. He explores the maddening implications of this before happily awaking in his late 19th century present and all its many comforting imperfections.
I would suggest that Kurt Vonnegut’s excellent short story Harrison Bergeron was also influenced by this one; dealing as it does with the hampering of any gifts or qualities. In Jerome’s piece healthy limbs are removed and brains handicapped and Vonnegut similarly stymies his characters.
Spot the increasing creep of this imagined dystopia’s rationale into our own 2022 society as we too worship “The Destiny of Humanity” and similarly utopian projects.
“We raised our glasses and drank to EQUALITY, sacred EQUALITY; and then ordered the waiter to bring us Green Char- treuse and more cigars.”
“Men thought more of their wives and families than they did of the State. They wished to labour for the benefit of their little circle of beloved ones rather than for the good of the community. They cared more for the future of their children than for the Destiny of Humanity. The ties of love and blood bound men together fast in little groups instead of in one great whole.”
"Yes; when a man is much above the average size and strength, we cut one of his legs or arms off, so as to make things more equal; we lop him down a bit, as it were. Nature, you see, is somewhat behind the times; but we do what we can to put her straight."
"I have sometimes thought," mused the old gentleman, "that it was a pity we could not level up sometimes, instead of always levelling down; but, of course, that is impossible."
“There is no beauty in the country now whatever. We have abolished beauty; it interfered with our equality. It was not fair that some people should live among lovely scenery, and other upon barren moors. So we have made it all pretty much alike everywhere now, and no place can lord it over another."
“All lands are exactly the same. The whole world is all one people now--one language, one law, one life."
December 17, 2020
Έχω ένα θέμα.
Όχι με τον Τζερόμ και τους φίλους του, που συζητούν για σοσιαλισμό καπνίζοντας πούρα.
Ούτε για όσους βλέπουν σε ένα κείμενο του 1891, που προφητεύει καταστάσεις του 1930.
Ουτε φυσικά με το επίμετρο του Λαμπράκου, που λέει τα πράγματα με το όνομά τους.
Το θέμα μου είναι πως τέτοια κείμενα -που γράφονται κατά κύριο λόγο λίγο μετά την έκρηξη μιας απο τις μεγάλες ιδέες της ανθρωπότητας και τη στυλιτεύουν, επισημαίνοντας τα προβλήματα στην εφαρμογή μιας τέτοιας ιδέας- διαβάζονται και ερμηνεύονται από ηλιθίους ή καλοθελητές ως μανιφέστα για να μην κάνουμε τίποτα.
Ουστ.
Όχι με τον Τζερόμ και τους φίλους του, που συζητούν για σοσιαλισμό καπνίζοντας πούρα.
Ούτε για όσους βλέπουν σε ένα κείμενο του 1891, που προφητεύει καταστάσεις του 1930.
Ουτε φυσικά με το επίμετρο του Λαμπράκου, που λέει τα πράγματα με το όνομά τους.
Το θέμα μου είναι πως τέτοια κείμενα -που γράφονται κατά κύριο λόγο λίγο μετά την έκρηξη μιας απο τις μεγάλες ιδέες της ανθρωπότητας και τη στυλιτεύουν, επισημαίνοντας τα προβλήματα στην εφαρμογή μιας τέτοιας ιδέας- διαβάζονται και ερμηνεύονται από ηλιθίους ή καλοθελητές ως μανιφέστα για να μην κάνουμε τίποτα.
Ουστ.
September 28, 2022
Krátká povídka, ale za to hodně obohacující... Lidé co přišli s úžasným nápadem začít například s komunismem si měli prvně přečíst tohle... Protože kdykoliv se něco zprvu zdá být naprosto dokonalé, chyby se objeví až později.
Autor v této povídce popisuje diskuzi několika lidí o tom, jak chtějí svět přetvořit tak, aby si byli lidé úplně ve všem rovni a nemohli si tak závidět. To by vedlo k tomu, že by neexistovala nenávist, agrese a kriminalita. Hlavní nejmenovaná postava si zprvu myslí, že je to úžasný nápad. Jenže když se dalšího dne probudí, zjistí, že spal několik tisíc let a svět se změnil podle toho, jak původně chtěli. Všichni jsou si rovni. Ale za jakou cenu? Neexistuje láska a manželství, protože by si lidé záviděli své partnery. Nevychovávají své děti, protože každý rodič si myslí, že je jeho dítě lepší než dítě jiné. Neexistují klasické domy, lidé nic nevlastní. Když je někdo více inteligentní, operačně se mu ovlivní mozek, aby byl průměrně inteligentní. Když je někdo vyšší, uřízne se mu noha nebo ruka, aby to bylo pro ostatní fér. A kdo o tom všem rozhoduje? Tzv. Většina. A kdo není součástí většiny, je ostatními odsuzován.
V tomto "dokonalém" světě všichni lidé vypadají stejně.. všichni mají černé krátké vlasy, dohladka oholenou tvář a muž se od ženy liší jen svým přiřazeným číslem.
Velmi se mi líbil okamžik, kdy si hlavní postava říká, odkud zná ty prázdné výrazy. A pak si uvědomí, že takto se tváří zvířata chovaná v klecích na maso a jiné věci.
Dílo je opravdu kraťoučké, ale vystihne všechno. A poukazuje na to, co dělá člověka člověkem.
Autor v této povídce popisuje diskuzi několika lidí o tom, jak chtějí svět přetvořit tak, aby si byli lidé úplně ve všem rovni a nemohli si tak závidět. To by vedlo k tomu, že by neexistovala nenávist, agrese a kriminalita. Hlavní nejmenovaná postava si zprvu myslí, že je to úžasný nápad. Jenže když se dalšího dne probudí, zjistí, že spal několik tisíc let a svět se změnil podle toho, jak původně chtěli. Všichni jsou si rovni. Ale za jakou cenu? Neexistuje láska a manželství, protože by si lidé záviděli své partnery. Nevychovávají své děti, protože každý rodič si myslí, že je jeho dítě lepší než dítě jiné. Neexistují klasické domy, lidé nic nevlastní. Když je někdo více inteligentní, operačně se mu ovlivní mozek, aby byl průměrně inteligentní. Když je někdo vyšší, uřízne se mu noha nebo ruka, aby to bylo pro ostatní fér. A kdo o tom všem rozhoduje? Tzv. Většina. A kdo není součástí většiny, je ostatními odsuzován.
V tomto "dokonalém" světě všichni lidé vypadají stejně.. všichni mají černé krátké vlasy, dohladka oholenou tvář a muž se od ženy liší jen svým přiřazeným číslem.
Velmi se mi líbil okamžik, kdy si hlavní postava říká, odkud zná ty prázdné výrazy. A pak si uvědomí, že takto se tváří zvířata chovaná v klecích na maso a jiné věci.
Dílo je opravdu kraťoučké, ale vystihne všechno. A poukazuje na to, co dělá člověka člověkem.
September 21, 2020
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
THE NEW UTOPIA
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
About someone who sleeps through the "GREAT SOCIAL REVOLUTION OF 1899.", for ten years before being discovered and thence left in a museum as an experiment, and wakes up in the new utopia of equality.
Turns out it was only a nightmare. But quite a horror, at that.
................................................................................................
"1891 - I had spent an extremely interesting evening. I had dined with some very "advanced" friends of mine at the "National Socialist Club". We had had an excellent dinner: the pheasant, stuffed with truffles, was a poem; and when I say that the '49 Chateau Lafitte was worth the price we had to pay for it, I do not see what more I can add in its favour."
Notice the name of the club. Is it only the name that's connecting it with the then unimaginable future, now infamous past, party?
................................................................................................
"I listened very attentively while my friends explained how, for the thousands of centuries during which it had existed before they came, the world had been going on all wrong, and how, in the course of the next few years or so, they meant to put it right.
"Equality of all mankind was their watchword--perfect equality in all things--equality in possessions, and equality in position and influence, and equality in duties, resulting in equality in happiness and contentment.
"The world belonged to all alike, and must be equally divided. Each man's labour was the property, not of himself, but of the State which fed and clothed him, and must be applied, not to his own aggrandisement, but to the enrichment of the race.
"Individual wealth--the social chain with which the few had bound the many, the bandit's pistol by which a small gang of rob- bers had thieved--must be taken from the hands that too long had held it.
"Social distinctions--the barriers by which the rising tide of humanity had hitherto been fretted and restrained--must be for ever swept aside. The human race must press onward to its destiny (whatever that might be), not as at present, a scattered horde, scrambling, each man for himself, over the broken ground of un- equal birth and fortune--the soft sward reserved for the feet of the pampered, the cruel stones reserved for the feet of the cursed,--but an ordered army, marching side by side over the level plain of equity and equality.
"The great bosom of our Mother Earth should nourish all her children, like and like; none should be hungry, none should have too much. The strong man should not grasp more than the weak; the clever should not scheme to seize more than the simple. The earth was man's, and the fulness thereof; and among all mankind it should be portioned out in even shares. All men were equal by the laws of man.
"With inequality comes misery, crime, sin, selfishness, arrogance, hypocrisy. In a world in which all men were equal, there would exist no temptation to evil, and our natural nobility would assert itself."
"We raised our glasses and drank to EQUALITY, sacred EQUALITY; and then ordered the waiter to bring us Green Char- treuse and more cigars."
................................................................................................
""What's the matter?" he asked; "anything disturbed you?"
""No," I said; "I always wake up like this, when I feel I've had enough sleep. What century is this?"
""This," he said, "is the twenty-ninth century. You have been asleep for just one thousand years."
""Ah! well, I feel all the better for it," I replied, getting down off the table. "There's nothing like having one's sleep out."
""I take it you are going to do the usual thing." said the old gentleman to me, as I proceeded to put on my clothes, which had been lying beside me in the case. "You'll want me to walk round the city with you, and explain all the changes to you, while you ask questions and make silly remarks?"
""Yes," I replied, "I suppose that's what I ought to do.""
"Everyone was dressed, as was also my guide, in a pair of grey trousers, and a grey tunic, buttoning tight round the neck and fastened round the waist by a belt. Each man was clean shaven, and each man had black hair.
"I said:
""Are all men twins?"
""Twins! Good gracious, no!" answered my guide. "Whatever made you fancy that?"
""Why, they all look so much alike," I replied; "and they've all got black hair!"
""Oh; that's the regulation colour for hair," explained my companion: "we've all got black hair. If a man's hair is not black naturally, he has to have it dyed black."
""Why?" I asked. "Why!" retorted the old gentleman, somewhat irritably.
""Why, I thought you understood that all men were now equal. What would become of our equality if one man or woman were allowed to swagger about in golden hair, while another had to put up with carrots?"
"He said that they had found they could not maintain their equality when people were allowed to wash themselves. Some people washed three or four times a day, while others never touched soap and water from one year's end to the other, and in consquence there got to be two distinct classes, the Clean and the Dirty. All the old class prejudices began to be revived. The clean despised the dirty, and the dirty hated the clean. So, to end dissension, the State decided to do the washing itself, and each citizen was now washed twice a day by government-appointed officials; and private washing was prohibited."
Further descriptions of living arrangements are so like what one yt video showed about a factory in China, it's not as funny as the author thought, if he did.
................................................................................................
For that matter, further description is all horror - abolishing not only marriage but love, breeding of humans no different from that of cattle, children taken at birth by state and brought up until they finish their state selected training at twenty, country all market garden with rectangular roads and canals, world all one language and no variety, anyone better has an arm or a leg or head to lose! No literature and no art, either. No sports, of course.
"I looked at the faces of the men and women that were passing. There was a patient, almost pathetic, expression upon them all. I wondered where I had seen that look before; it seemed familiar to me.
"All at once I remembered. It was just the quiet, troubled, wondering expression that I had always noticed upon the faces of the horses and oxen that we used to breed and keep in the old world."
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
September 21, 2020 - September 21, 2020.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
THE NEW UTOPIA
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
About someone who sleeps through the "GREAT SOCIAL REVOLUTION OF 1899.", for ten years before being discovered and thence left in a museum as an experiment, and wakes up in the new utopia of equality.
Turns out it was only a nightmare. But quite a horror, at that.
................................................................................................
"1891 - I had spent an extremely interesting evening. I had dined with some very "advanced" friends of mine at the "National Socialist Club". We had had an excellent dinner: the pheasant, stuffed with truffles, was a poem; and when I say that the '49 Chateau Lafitte was worth the price we had to pay for it, I do not see what more I can add in its favour."
Notice the name of the club. Is it only the name that's connecting it with the then unimaginable future, now infamous past, party?
................................................................................................
"I listened very attentively while my friends explained how, for the thousands of centuries during which it had existed before they came, the world had been going on all wrong, and how, in the course of the next few years or so, they meant to put it right.
"Equality of all mankind was their watchword--perfect equality in all things--equality in possessions, and equality in position and influence, and equality in duties, resulting in equality in happiness and contentment.
"The world belonged to all alike, and must be equally divided. Each man's labour was the property, not of himself, but of the State which fed and clothed him, and must be applied, not to his own aggrandisement, but to the enrichment of the race.
"Individual wealth--the social chain with which the few had bound the many, the bandit's pistol by which a small gang of rob- bers had thieved--must be taken from the hands that too long had held it.
"Social distinctions--the barriers by which the rising tide of humanity had hitherto been fretted and restrained--must be for ever swept aside. The human race must press onward to its destiny (whatever that might be), not as at present, a scattered horde, scrambling, each man for himself, over the broken ground of un- equal birth and fortune--the soft sward reserved for the feet of the pampered, the cruel stones reserved for the feet of the cursed,--but an ordered army, marching side by side over the level plain of equity and equality.
"The great bosom of our Mother Earth should nourish all her children, like and like; none should be hungry, none should have too much. The strong man should not grasp more than the weak; the clever should not scheme to seize more than the simple. The earth was man's, and the fulness thereof; and among all mankind it should be portioned out in even shares. All men were equal by the laws of man.
"With inequality comes misery, crime, sin, selfishness, arrogance, hypocrisy. In a world in which all men were equal, there would exist no temptation to evil, and our natural nobility would assert itself."
"We raised our glasses and drank to EQUALITY, sacred EQUALITY; and then ordered the waiter to bring us Green Char- treuse and more cigars."
................................................................................................
""What's the matter?" he asked; "anything disturbed you?"
""No," I said; "I always wake up like this, when I feel I've had enough sleep. What century is this?"
""This," he said, "is the twenty-ninth century. You have been asleep for just one thousand years."
""Ah! well, I feel all the better for it," I replied, getting down off the table. "There's nothing like having one's sleep out."
""I take it you are going to do the usual thing." said the old gentleman to me, as I proceeded to put on my clothes, which had been lying beside me in the case. "You'll want me to walk round the city with you, and explain all the changes to you, while you ask questions and make silly remarks?"
""Yes," I replied, "I suppose that's what I ought to do.""
"Everyone was dressed, as was also my guide, in a pair of grey trousers, and a grey tunic, buttoning tight round the neck and fastened round the waist by a belt. Each man was clean shaven, and each man had black hair.
"I said:
""Are all men twins?"
""Twins! Good gracious, no!" answered my guide. "Whatever made you fancy that?"
""Why, they all look so much alike," I replied; "and they've all got black hair!"
""Oh; that's the regulation colour for hair," explained my companion: "we've all got black hair. If a man's hair is not black naturally, he has to have it dyed black."
""Why?" I asked. "Why!" retorted the old gentleman, somewhat irritably.
""Why, I thought you understood that all men were now equal. What would become of our equality if one man or woman were allowed to swagger about in golden hair, while another had to put up with carrots?"
"He said that they had found they could not maintain their equality when people were allowed to wash themselves. Some people washed three or four times a day, while others never touched soap and water from one year's end to the other, and in consquence there got to be two distinct classes, the Clean and the Dirty. All the old class prejudices began to be revived. The clean despised the dirty, and the dirty hated the clean. So, to end dissension, the State decided to do the washing itself, and each citizen was now washed twice a day by government-appointed officials; and private washing was prohibited."
Further descriptions of living arrangements are so like what one yt video showed about a factory in China, it's not as funny as the author thought, if he did.
................................................................................................
For that matter, further description is all horror - abolishing not only marriage but love, breeding of humans no different from that of cattle, children taken at birth by state and brought up until they finish their state selected training at twenty, country all market garden with rectangular roads and canals, world all one language and no variety, anyone better has an arm or a leg or head to lose! No literature and no art, either. No sports, of course.
"I looked at the faces of the men and women that were passing. There was a patient, almost pathetic, expression upon them all. I wondered where I had seen that look before; it seemed familiar to me.
"All at once I remembered. It was just the quiet, troubled, wondering expression that I had always noticed upon the faces of the horses and oxen that we used to breed and keep in the old world."
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
September 21, 2020 - September 21, 2020.
................................................
................................................
December 13, 2022
Até hoje de manhã, eu nunca havia ouvido falar nesta criatura. Quem diabos é esse autor que tem sobrenome igual ao seu prenome?
Pois bem, ele é uma das influencias de George Orwell e Aldous Huxley. Nesse conto, ele traz um embrião distópico sobre uma sociedade perfeita: são todos iguais! A ditadura da MAIORIA é real. Não há diferenças de qualquer espécie que não tenha sido sanada ou diminuída pelo Estado. Ah, os perigoso do socialismo! O tom do autor é ácido e irônico e assiste como pessoas "idealistas", tomando vinho caro, comendo bem e fumando charutos de qualidade defendiam a igualdade total e a qualquer custo.
A inigualdade não é tolerada de forma alguma, logo todos usam as mesmas roupas, usam o mesmo cabelo (cor e corte), não têm nomes (mas têm números, afinal seria injusto uns terem nomes bonitos enquanto outros, não), se dedicam ao trabalho pelo mesmo tempo e esforço, e assim por diante. Até o matrimônio e as famílias foram abolidas, uma vez que o amor e laços afetivos/amizade, privilegiariam umas em detrimento de outras e do próprio Estado.
A relação desse conto com 1984 e, principalmente, Admirável Mundo Novo é impossível de ser ignorada. A polifonia e a interdiscursividade são concretos.
Era um mundo sem arte, literatura ou natureza na sua forma selvagem apenas para manter a igualdade. Como diz o autor sobre arte e literatura:
"Elas faziam os homens pensarem, e os homens que pensam se tornavam mais inteligentes que aqueles que não desejavam pensar, e aqueles que não desejavam pensar naturalmente se opuseram a isto, e sendo a MAIORIA, opuseram-se a este propósito."
4 letras e 1 sentimento: medo.
Pois bem, ele é uma das influencias de George Orwell e Aldous Huxley. Nesse conto, ele traz um embrião distópico sobre uma sociedade perfeita: são todos iguais! A ditadura da MAIORIA é real. Não há diferenças de qualquer espécie que não tenha sido sanada ou diminuída pelo Estado. Ah, os perigoso do socialismo! O tom do autor é ácido e irônico e assiste como pessoas "idealistas", tomando vinho caro, comendo bem e fumando charutos de qualidade defendiam a igualdade total e a qualquer custo.
A inigualdade não é tolerada de forma alguma, logo todos usam as mesmas roupas, usam o mesmo cabelo (cor e corte), não têm nomes (mas têm números, afinal seria injusto uns terem nomes bonitos enquanto outros, não), se dedicam ao trabalho pelo mesmo tempo e esforço, e assim por diante. Até o matrimônio e as famílias foram abolidas, uma vez que o amor e laços afetivos/amizade, privilegiariam umas em detrimento de outras e do próprio Estado.
A relação desse conto com 1984 e, principalmente, Admirável Mundo Novo é impossível de ser ignorada. A polifonia e a interdiscursividade são concretos.
Era um mundo sem arte, literatura ou natureza na sua forma selvagem apenas para manter a igualdade. Como diz o autor sobre arte e literatura:
"Elas faziam os homens pensarem, e os homens que pensam se tornavam mais inteligentes que aqueles que não desejavam pensar, e aqueles que não desejavam pensar naturalmente se opuseram a isto, e sendo a MAIORIA, opuseram-se a este propósito."
4 letras e 1 sentimento: medo.
March 13, 2021
জেরম কে. জেরমের ‘থ্রি মেন ইন এ বোট’ বইটার মাধ্যমে তাঁর রসবোধ হিউমারের পরিচয় পেয়েছিলাম। ‘দ্য নিউ ইউটোপিয়া’ গল্পে সেই হিউমারের ফ্লেভার আরেকবার পেলাম।
হাক্সলি যেমন ‘ব্রেইভ নিউ ওয়ার্ল্ড’ বইয়ে নির্মাণ করেছিলেন ‘মানব খামার’-এর মতো বিচিত্র জগৎ যেখানে যান্ত্রিক উপায়ে তৈরি হবে মানুষ। তিনি যেমন তাঁর নির্মিত ইউটোপিয়ান জগতের সাথে দ্বন্দ্ব বাঁধিয়েছিলেন আদিম জগতের, জেরম কে. জেরম কিছুটা অন্য পথে হেঁটেছিলেন,
ঘুরে ফিরে আবার সেই বাইনারি অপজিশন, দেখলেন!
তবে যাই বলুন, ঐ শ্রেণিহীন সমাজ আর নব্য ইউটোপিয়ার যে স্পেকুলেশন, জেরম কে. জেরম একদম ধুয়ে দিয়েছেন!
এই হল নব্য ইউটোপিয়ান জগৎ যেখানে রাষ্ট্র আর ব্যাক্তির মাঝে যে স্তরগুলো আছে সেই স্তরগুলো আগে ভেঙ্গে ফেলা হয়েছে। একটি পারফেক্ট ইউটোপিয়ান জগৎ গড়তে গেলে এই ভাঙ্গনের কি আর বিকল্প আছে?
লেখক জেরম কে. জেরম এই ছোট্ট গল্পে কি বিশাল চিন্তার খোরাক ঢেলে দিয়েছেন দেখুন!
হাক্সলি যেমন ‘ব্রেইভ নিউ ওয়ার্ল্ড’ বইয়ে নির্মাণ করেছিলেন ‘মানব খামার’-এর মতো বিচিত্র জগৎ যেখানে যান্ত্রিক উপায়ে তৈরি হবে মানুষ। তিনি যেমন তাঁর নির্মিত ইউটোপিয়ান জগতের সাথে দ্বন্দ্ব বাঁধিয়েছিলেন আদিম জগতের, জেরম কে. জেরম কিছুটা অন্য পথে হেঁটেছিলেন,
ঘুরে ফিরে আবার সেই বাইনারি অপজিশন, দেখলেন!
তবে যাই বলুন, ঐ শ্রেণিহীন সমাজ আর নব্য ইউটোপিয়ার যে স্পেকুলেশন, জেরম কে. জেরম একদম ধুয়ে দিয়েছেন!
এই হল নব্য ইউটোপিয়ান জগৎ যেখানে রাষ্ট্র আর ব্যাক্তির মাঝে যে স্তরগুলো আছে সেই স্তরগুলো আগে ভেঙ্গে ফেলা হয়েছে। একটি পারফেক্ট ইউটোপিয়ান জগৎ গড়তে গেলে এই ভাঙ্গনের কি আর বিকল্প আছে?
লেখক জেরম কে. জেরম এই ছোট্ট গল্পে কি বিশাল চিন্তার খোরাক ঢেলে দিয়েছেন দেখুন!
July 19, 2022
A short but powerful story describing Dystopia disguised as Utopia. Egalitarianism as a sociopolitical model is admirable but mistaken, as demonstrated here.
July 30, 2020
دمب دیستوپیاها رو گرفتم و به این داستان کوتاه قرن نوزدهمی رسیدم.
June 8, 2025
The New Utopia (1891) by Jerome K Jerome is a fun short story about a socialist and equality driven dystopia.
It’s remarkable to find out that in 1891 some of the tropes of dystopias had already been written about. Numbers instead of names, the same clothes for everyone, forced equality. It’s all there. As is being amused by wealthy socialist theorisers of the present.
The New Utopia is absolutely worth the short time it takes to read.
It’s remarkable to find out that in 1891 some of the tropes of dystopias had already been written about. Numbers instead of names, the same clothes for everyone, forced equality. It’s all there. As is being amused by wealthy socialist theorisers of the present.
The New Utopia is absolutely worth the short time it takes to read.
September 20, 2023
This short story is a satirical precursor to Zamyatin's novel, We. The narrator of this story is a smug, affluent, single man (very much patterned on the author?).
I found the story on Wikisource after reading the entry on We. There were a great many dystopian fictions written in the last century, mostly reacting to overwhelming government control and suppression of individuals. They seem to have a great deal in common with suppressed individuality, lack of imagination, tedium, and written by men, tend to neglect the even-numbered people. [Consider 1984, written by Orwell after his disillusionment with the communist party. This was also the case with other totalitarian dystopias written in the early to mid-twentieth century.]
There is considerable paranoia concerning control today, but a government by the people has always seemed less threatening than alternative control by capitalists and others in power. That is, money has [too] much power, and what's left on the larger world stage is inherited or stolen rather than earned. At least democracy offers a vote; the other only self-perpetuating power grab. A suggestion of consideration of the needs/desires of minorities in "The New Utopia" does not include racial or religious or any other minorities. The story was written at a time when education and authority were largely granted by birthright. That demographic of power and wealth naturally wanted to belittle the opposition—those who suggested that opportunity and justice might be desired by the rest of us. I suspect disillusioned former-communists had lost their sense of humor, but Jerome never did. After all, his class were still on top and on top even now. The rabble are so amusing when their aspire to choices above their station.
Jerome's voice is funny, but even in such a very short story, the humor here wears a bit thin. And then it ends, just in time.
After dinner, and over the cigars (I must say they do know how to stock good cigars at the National Socialist Club), we had a very instructive discussion about the coming equality of man and the nationalisation of capital. ...In a dream, the narrator wakes in a museum display of MAN—ASLEEP. PERIOD-19TH CENTURY. He is taken on a tour a thousand years in the future and everyone is alike. Electric cars, uniform clothing, haircuts, following the same daily and weekly schedules of being bathed, fed, and three hours of work a day—no more, no less. Men are named with odd numbers, women with even (Zamyatin's novel uses this detail and a bell schedule.) All decisions are made by "The Majority" and the resulting absurdity is played for laughs.
With inequality comes misery, crime, sin, selfishness, arrogance, hypocrisy. In a world in which all men were equal, there would exist no temptation to evil, and our natural nobility would assert itself.
When all men were equal, the world would be Heaven—freed from the degrading despotism of God.
We raised our glasses and drank to Equality, sacred Equality; and then ordered the waiter to bring us green Chartreuse and more cigars.
I found the story on Wikisource after reading the entry on We. There were a great many dystopian fictions written in the last century, mostly reacting to overwhelming government control and suppression of individuals. They seem to have a great deal in common with suppressed individuality, lack of imagination, tedium, and written by men, tend to neglect the even-numbered people. [Consider 1984, written by Orwell after his disillusionment with the communist party. This was also the case with other totalitarian dystopias written in the early to mid-twentieth century.]
There is considerable paranoia concerning control today, but a government by the people has always seemed less threatening than alternative control by capitalists and others in power. That is, money has [too] much power, and what's left on the larger world stage is inherited or stolen rather than earned. At least democracy offers a vote; the other only self-perpetuating power grab. A suggestion of consideration of the needs/desires of minorities in "The New Utopia" does not include racial or religious or any other minorities. The story was written at a time when education and authority were largely granted by birthright. That demographic of power and wealth naturally wanted to belittle the opposition—those who suggested that opportunity and justice might be desired by the rest of us. I suspect disillusioned former-communists had lost their sense of humor, but Jerome never did. After all, his class were still on top and on top even now. The rabble are so amusing when their aspire to choices above their station.
Jerome's voice is funny, but even in such a very short story, the humor here wears a bit thin. And then it ends, just in time.
April 13, 2019
Ο Jerome μέσα από μια σατιρική νουβέλα θέτει στο στόχαστρό του την ιδέα της Ισότητας, φτάνοντας στα ακραία όριά της τη σοσιαλιστική ιδεολογία, τουλάχιστον έτσι όπως την γνώριζε και την κατανοούσε. Μάλιστα στην αρχή του βιβλίου συναντάμε τον πρωταγωνιστή της ιστορίας να δειπνεί με φίλους του σε μια Λέσχη Σοσιαλιστών της εποχής του, οι οποίοι του ανέπτυσσαν τις θεωρίες τους παράλληλα με ένα εκλεκτό δείπνο. Ο μεταφραστής στο επίμετρό του θα χαρακτηρίσει αυτό το σκηνικό ως «σοσιαλιστές της σαμπάνιας» και «Αριστερά του χαβιαριού». Με μαρξιστικούς όρους θα μπορούσαμε να κατανοήσουμε τις ιδέες τις οποίες σατιρίζει ο Jerome, ως ιδέες του «ουτοπικού σοσιαλισμού». Σίγουρα πάντως πρόκειται για ιδέες που υπάρχουν ακόμα μόνο στο επίπεδο της θεωρίας και δεν έχουν δοκιμαστεί στην πράξη (με εξαίρεση τη μικρή -αλλά τεράστιας σημασίας- παρένθεση των 100 ημερών της Παρισινής Κομμούνας), αφού συζητιούνται δεκαετίες πριν απ’ το 1917.
Όμως, το κείμενο του Jerome δεν μοιάζει σήμερα άκαιρο τόσο λόγω της κριτικής του σε πολύ πρώιμες σοσιαλιστικές ιδέες. Είναι αμέτρητα εξάλλου τα έργα της λογοτεχνίας τα οποία διατηρούν τα διαχρονικά τους μηνύματα αιώνες ολόκληρους μετά τη συγγραφή τους. Μοιάζει όμως άκαιρο λόγω του κεντρικού του θέματος του, που είναι η κριτική στην ιδέα της Ισότητας, τουλάχιστον έτσι όπως ο Jerome κατανοούσε ότι την εννοούσαν οι σοσιαλιστές συνδαιτημόνες του. Σε αυτή την κριτική οδηγούμαστε μέσα απ’ τη δυστοπία που κατασκευάζει ή αλλιώς τη «Νέα Ουτοπία» του, η οποία είναι μια μελλοντική κοινωνία στην οποία ξυπνά ο πρωταγωνιστής του έργου, αφού έχει βυθιστεί στις ιδέες των σοσιαλιστών φίλων του και μετά από το φαγοπότι τους τον έχει πάρει ο ύπνος. Σε αυτή την κοινωνία θα έρθει αντιμέτωπος με μια ακραία εξισωτική κοινωνία, στην οποία προκειμένου να αρθεί κάθε ανισότητα οι άνθρωποι έχουν αποβάλλει κάθε έννοια ατομικότητας και ιδιωτική ζωής και ως εκ τούτου κάθε έννοια προσωπικής ευχαρίστησης.
Γιατί όμως να μοιάζει σήμερα απαρχαιωμένη μια προειδοποίηση για τα ακραία όρια της εφαρμογής της ιδέας της Ισότητας; Μα είναι προφανές. Γιατί ζούμε στην εποχή της πιο σκληρής επέλασης του καπιταλισμού, η κρίση του οποίου έχει δημιουργήσει διεθνώς τεράστιες ανισότητες. Και όσο περνούν τα χρόνια οι ανισότητες οξύνονται, κάνοντας τους πλούσιους ακόμα πλουσιότερους και τους φτωχούς ακόμα φτωχότερους. Οπότε μια προειδοποίηση για τα ακραία όρια της Ισότητας ίσως μοιάζει πολυτέλεια σήμερα.
Κριτική στο Smassing Culture
Όμως, το κείμενο του Jerome δεν μοιάζει σήμερα άκαιρο τόσο λόγω της κριτικής του σε πολύ πρώιμες σοσιαλιστικές ιδέες. Είναι αμέτρητα εξάλλου τα έργα της λογοτεχνίας τα οποία διατηρούν τα διαχρονικά τους μηνύματα αιώνες ολόκληρους μετά τη συγγραφή τους. Μοιάζει όμως άκαιρο λόγω του κεντρικού του θέματος του, που είναι η κριτική στην ιδέα της Ισότητας, τουλάχιστον έτσι όπως ο Jerome κατανοούσε ότι την εννοούσαν οι σοσιαλιστές συνδαιτημόνες του. Σε αυτή την κριτική οδηγούμαστε μέσα απ’ τη δυστοπία που κατασκευάζει ή αλλιώς τη «Νέα Ουτοπία» του, η οποία είναι μια μελλοντική κοινωνία στην οποία ξυπνά ο πρωταγωνιστής του έργου, αφού έχει βυθιστεί στις ιδέες των σοσιαλιστών φίλων του και μετά από το φαγοπότι τους τον έχει πάρει ο ύπνος. Σε αυτή την κοινωνία θα έρθει αντιμέτωπος με μια ακραία εξισωτική κοινωνία, στην οποία προκειμένου να αρθεί κάθε ανισότητα οι άνθρωποι έχουν αποβάλλει κάθε έννοια ατομικότητας και ιδιωτική ζωής και ως εκ τούτου κάθε έννοια προσωπικής ευχαρίστησης.
Γιατί όμως να μοιάζει σήμερα απαρχαιωμένη μια προειδοποίηση για τα ακραία όρια της εφαρμογής της ιδέας της Ισότητας; Μα είναι προφανές. Γιατί ζούμε στην εποχή της πιο σκληρής επέλασης του καπιταλισμού, η κρίση του οποίου έχει δημιουργήσει διεθνώς τεράστιες ανισότητες. Και όσο περνούν τα χρόνια οι ανισότητες οξύνονται, κάνοντας τους πλούσιους ακόμα πλουσιότερους και τους φτωχούς ακόμα φτωχότερους. Οπότε μια προειδοποίηση για τα ακραία όρια της Ισότητας ίσως μοιάζει πολυτέλεια σήμερα.
Κριτική στο Smassing Culture
February 18, 2024
I když tato krátká povídka vyšla na konci 19. století, stále je velmi aktuální. Při čtení se mi často vybavoval film Equilibrium, tam se zaměřili především na emoce, kdežto v této povídce to vzali z gruntu. Socialistická rovnost všech je zde dotažena až k "dokonalosti". Ženy i muži musí vypadat stejně, dokonce i barva vlasů je daná, žádná manželství, děti jsou odebrány matkám a vychovány státem, žádné soukromí, vyšším lidem se berou končetiny, inteligentnější lidé jsou chirurgicky "opraveni", tak, aby všichni byli na stejné úrovni. Pracovní doba tři hodiny týdně...to sice vypadá dobře, ale když si ve volném čase člověk nemůže zajít do divadla, či přečíst knihu, co těch zbylých 21 hodin? Všichni jsou vegetariáni. A kdo rozhoduje o těchto věcech? No přece většina...a ta se nikdy nemýlí, protože když se na něčem většina shodne, je to správně. Nebo? Co na to menšina?
Pokud všichni budou mít naprosto stejné podmínky, pak tohle je přesně ten případ, kdy může rovnost všech fungovat a zároveň důvod, proč to nikdy fungovat nebude. Pokud zůstane cokoliv, v čem někdo může vynikat mezi ostatními, tedy něco, co mu může někdo jiný závidět, nikdy nebudou mít všichni stejně. Ale o tom to přece je, jak jinak má být člověk motivovaný snažit se něco dokázat, mít vůbec chuť k životu, když nehledě na to, co udělá, bude mít to samé, co všichni kolem? To by přece lidstvo nepřežilo.
Na to, jak je povídka krátká, se o ní dá diskutovat dlouhé hodiny.
A ještě na závěr, už jsem dlouho v textu neviděla slovo "hitherto" a zkratku "&c.", jestli vůbec :)
Pokud všichni budou mít naprosto stejné podmínky, pak tohle je přesně ten případ, kdy může rovnost všech fungovat a zároveň důvod, proč to nikdy fungovat nebude. Pokud zůstane cokoliv, v čem někdo může vynikat mezi ostatními, tedy něco, co mu může někdo jiný závidět, nikdy nebudou mít všichni stejně. Ale o tom to přece je, jak jinak má být člověk motivovaný snažit se něco dokázat, mít vůbec chuť k životu, když nehledě na to, co udělá, bude mít to samé, co všichni kolem? To by přece lidstvo nepřežilo.
Na to, jak je povídka krátká, se o ní dá diskutovat dlouhé hodiny.
A ještě na závěr, už jsem dlouho v textu neviděla slovo "hitherto" a zkratku "&c.", jestli vůbec :)
June 6, 2024
Li este conto por ter visto que ele inspirou outras distopias mais elaboradas que foram escritas. Aqui não temos ficção científica misturada com a história, simplesmente uma distopia social, aproveitando dúvidas que o pensamento socialista poderia estar trazendo à sociedade da época.
O conto é uma análise por absurdo do conceito de igualdade. Pode ser visto como uma crítica ao socialismo ou até como uma crítica à própria revolução francesa (igualdade, liberdade e fraternidade). A igualdade é extrapolada a tão ponto que garanta que todos são de fato iguais e nenhuma diferenciação social seja possível.
Apesar de curto, e talvez até por isso, é possível ver conexões desta distopia com cenários descritos em 1984, Admirável Mundo Novo e Máquina do Tempo. Tal como em admirável mundo novo, temos uma eliminação da dor. Porém, tal como em 1984, temos uma eliminação do prazer. Estamos assim, em uma distopia que elimina os conceitos que ambos os livros utilizam para o controle social. Aqui, o controle social é gerado pela democracia, pela voz da maioria.
O conto é uma análise por absurdo do conceito de igualdade. Pode ser visto como uma crítica ao socialismo ou até como uma crítica à própria revolução francesa (igualdade, liberdade e fraternidade). A igualdade é extrapolada a tão ponto que garanta que todos são de fato iguais e nenhuma diferenciação social seja possível.
Apesar de curto, e talvez até por isso, é possível ver conexões desta distopia com cenários descritos em 1984, Admirável Mundo Novo e Máquina do Tempo. Tal como em admirável mundo novo, temos uma eliminação da dor. Porém, tal como em 1984, temos uma eliminação do prazer. Estamos assim, em uma distopia que elimina os conceitos que ambos os livros utilizam para o controle social. Aqui, o controle social é gerado pela democracia, pela voz da maioria.
May 13, 2020
In a serious departure from his usual comic and carefree narratives, this short story has the author exploring more serious stuff. And very successfully so too. That famous Jeromy wit is very much there but more so it has morphed, for good or bad, into bordering on satire and sarcasm. In this short story, Jerome has been dismissive of concepts like Equality, Utopia and Socialism and their virtues arguing via examples how impractical, unnatural and self defeating they would be. This is one of the earlier stories exploring sci-fi/utopia that I’m sure would have influenced many authors in the genre. Only gripe I have is that the story is too short and therefore crammed with too many ideas. Would have benefited if he had turned it at least into a novella if not a novel.
Highly recommended read.
Highly recommended read.
May 24, 2024
Our guide from the future briefly wishes leveling could be up instead of down, but he says it wouldn’t work that way. So the strong are lopped off “a bit,” and lobotomies given to the clever. Hair and clothes are, naturally, all the same size and style.
There is prescience here from 1891: National Socialism, “cradle to coffin” government and the broken families and block housing of Romania. And grand satire. The State washing everyone twice daily so no one is dirty shamed. The laughiest line might be the hope that someday everyone will get two votes. The Majority, after all, is God. And fun hypocrisy. The elitists order green Chartreuse from the waiter just after their paeans to socialism.
Most pointedly, Jerome shows how socialism is dull. When killing grief you must annihilate joy too. Suicide has been solved at the small price of deadened humanity.
There is prescience here from 1891: National Socialism, “cradle to coffin” government and the broken families and block housing of Romania. And grand satire. The State washing everyone twice daily so no one is dirty shamed. The laughiest line might be the hope that someday everyone will get two votes. The Majority, after all, is God. And fun hypocrisy. The elitists order green Chartreuse from the waiter just after their paeans to socialism.
Most pointedly, Jerome shows how socialism is dull. When killing grief you must annihilate joy too. Suicide has been solved at the small price of deadened humanity.
September 5, 2018
What a well written thought-provoking short story. I don't know for sure, because I didn't look into it, but I believe this story may have been a basis for Ayn Rand's book Anthem.
It's funny how a book can be both laughable and scary at the same time. The ideas, within the story, regarding equality for every person in the world were so out there. The controls over human kind by The Majority were actually not as scary as the willingness of man to accept this. To give up love and family for equality? Why? I surely hope this book will remain fiction.
It's funny how a book can be both laughable and scary at the same time. The ideas, within the story, regarding equality for every person in the world were so out there. The controls over human kind by The Majority were actually not as scary as the willingness of man to accept this. To give up love and family for equality? Why? I surely hope this book will remain fiction.
October 3, 2019
Before considering the advancement of the human race, men considered the advancement of their kith and kin. Before striving for the greatest happiness of the greatest number, men strove for the happiness of the few who were near and dear to them.
- And you worship a god?
- Oh, yes.
- What do you call him?
- THE MAJORITY.
February 11, 2020
Distopia precursora de histórias como "1984" e sintetiza em poucas páginas a idéia de um estado totalitário onde qualquer expressão individual é vedada. Nesse caso em nome da igualdade.
No livro, após se reunir com amigos socialistas e debater sobre os ideais, o narrador acorda no século 29 e descobre que a igualdade absoluta, em nome da maioria, foi levada ao extremo.
No livro, após se reunir com amigos socialistas e debater sobre os ideais, o narrador acorda no século 29 e descobre que a igualdade absoluta, em nome da maioria, foi levada ao extremo.
March 11, 2021
Short essay. I read it while making inquiries into dystopian literature. Light but salient. Jerome gives a view on the topic from a late 19th century view, in context of London's "Iron Heel" (1908), Zamyatin's "We" (1924)(see also: Lucas' "THX1138"), Marsov's "Love in the Fog of Future" (1924) ...and distinct from later works: "Brave New World" (1938), "1984" (1949) "Player Piano" (1952), etc.
February 24, 2019
Seguindo o caminho dos autores distópicos. A história descreve uma sociedade onde tudo é proibido ou nivelado por baixo sob o controle do Estado em nome da igualdade. Certamente influenciou Zamyatin, poderia ser um resumo de “Nós”.
September 5, 2017
Obviously laid the groundwork for many future dystopian tales, particularly, "We" and "Brave New World."
August 18, 2020
Социалисты пришли власти и уравняли всех, но не возвысив человека, а ограничив до среднего большинства.
January 25, 2021
An amusing read
If you like dry wit and irony, you'll like this short essay. It contains quite a few typos and copy errors, but they do not detract overmuch.
If you like dry wit and irony, you'll like this short essay. It contains quite a few typos and copy errors, but they do not detract overmuch.
April 5, 2021
Mother of all utopian/dystopian stories. Do give it a read if you are dark humour.
August 19, 2021
1) I now know where the roots of The Giver's story come from.
2) I agree with THE MAJORITY (on the 4-star rating), ha!
2) I agree with THE MAJORITY (on the 4-star rating), ha!
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