Scarlet Empire

by David M. Parry

Successful businessman David M. Parry wrote The Scarlet Empire in 1906, a time when dystopian and utopian novels were sufficiently popular in the United States and Great Britain that dozens were published in each country. Utopian fiction described perfect societies, usually socialistic and communitarian. Dystopian novels depicted degenerate societies, often occurring from the same approaches. In their introduction to this reprint, historians Jerome M. Clubb and Howard W. Allen argue that Parry?s novel and others like it display the opinions, feelings, and reactions of different sects of society at the turn of the century. Rapid changes in the United States caused mixed emotions about the future of the country. Many novels like The Scarlet Empire were used to criticize current measures, investigate proposed reform, and show these proposals in either a negative or a positive light. One of the most popular utopian novels of the time, Edward Bellamy?s Looking Backward, was written with the intention of promoting the reconciliation of equality and liberty. Bellamy?s novel advocated a socialist government, a perfect utopian society with equality for men, women, and children, consolidated businesses, and strict government control. Clubb and Allen observe that these changes directly reflect reforms that were being proposed by the younger generation at the turn of the century.

The Scarlet Empire is said to be a direct response to Looking Backward. It is intended as a supplemental text in American history, American studies, and popular culture courses. Eight original illustrations by Hermann C. Wall enhance the text.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1906

About the author

David MacLean Parry, industrialist and writer.

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novel of the evils of socialism. It shows the disastrous effects of trying to make everyone and everything equal. Scary, yet informative for those who don't yet see that socialism is tyranny. Also, the book is an interesting read if you like political dystopias.

[Megan Bowden · Rating 2 out of 5]

My goal was to read more dystopians this year, and so I added this book to my list when I found out it was in that genre. Turns out, I should have done a little more digging and research on it because it was a very right-wing, pro-capitalist dystopian. One can tell instantly upon embarking that Parry was more a business man than a writer and more of an essayist than a novelist.

The concept of the book itself is interesting enough: a man, upset with the way life is in the early 1900's United States casts himself off a dock and wakes up to find himself in the lost city of Atlantis. The dystopian details of the government and nation itself are engaging and make the reader think. However, the straight-up pro-capitalist agenda is hard to ignore, especially when the plot itself is lacking, as were the characters and the quality of writing.

In many ways, it reminded me of 1984 but obviously on the opposite side of the political spectrum. Both he and Orwell have similar ways of expressing the grand vision of their works, but then they fall short at the other aspects of what makes a great novel. This makes the reading dry for the most part, and I would not recommend this book unless you were specifically studying political dystopians of the era.

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a very interesting read from a historical and political sense. I first found this book when writing my dissertation and thanks to a friend who gifted me a copy was finally able to read it.

As other readers noted it's very pro capitalism but that's not evident at first as the character struggles with the ideals of socialism and money and industry but eventually tells the tale of an individual overcoming a massive socialist dystopian nation. At which point you wonder why this conclusion was met and is this a complex writing of a character or simply Parry extolling his own views as a warning about socialists. It was written in 1906 so you likely know the answer there.

But due to this its also oddly ahead of its time exploring ideas and concepts of hidden worlds and systems which were hot topics at the time and still are.

It's worth a read is what I'd say. It comes to an obvious conclusion and contains all the marks of a 1900s book written by a businessman warning of communistic ideas but it's also an exploration of ideas taken to an extreme and how laws can be manipulated even with good intent to oppress and control a population and how idealism of an idea can be damaging when taken out of context.

Parry isn't the strongest ot writers and depending on the translation you'll get different readings but overall something worth it not reading for enjoyment for study of the time and mentality.