'The human race must press onward to its destiny… an ordered army, marching side by side over the level plain of equity and equality.'
One of Jerome's more accomplished essays, The New Utopia unveils a fascinating insight into contemporary opinion on socialism.
Published at the height of the second industrial revolution, and the consequent backlash surrounding labourer's wages and poor working conditions, The New Utopia recounts a dream of the author's in which the world is transformed into a socialist wonderland. But what begins as a utopia soon descends into a warped vision of collective good, as egalitarianism is taken to extreme lengths: men and women are clothed in identical grey uniforms, donning the same short, black hair, wiped clean of individuality and merit. Gripping, pacey and a clever political commentary, Jerome creates a nightmarish landscape of distorted equality and unravels its consequences.
Jerome K. Jerome (1859 – 1927) was an English author and actor. Renowned for his comic works, he is best known for the hilarious travelogue, Three Men in a Boat. A prolific writer and admirer of the theatre, he penned several novels, essays and plays throughout his life.
