Looking Backward (Magill’s Guide to Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature)
At a glance:
- Author: Edward Bellamy
- First Published: 1888
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Fantasy—utopia
- Time of Work: 2000, with flashbacks to the nineteenth century
- Setting: Boston, Massachusetts
- Genres: Long fiction, Fantasy, Utopian fiction
- Subjects: North America or North Americans, Northeast, U.S., United States or Americans, Politics, Socialism, Love or romance, Crime or criminals, Twentieth century, Nineteenth century, Education or educators, Future, New England, Human race, Time travel, Boston, Government, Progress, Utopias, Hypnotism, Sleep, Massachusetts
- Locales: Boston, MA
The Plot
Using the form of a conventional romance, Looking Backward: 2000-1887 tells the story of Julian West, a wealthy young Bostonian who is an insomniac. Besides sleeping in a soundproof vault deep in the bowels of his home, he employs a hypnotist to ease his sleeping problems. One night after West has retired, his house burns down. He is not discovered until the year 2000. Somehow, his underground chamber and the deep sleep induced by the hypnotist have protected him for 112 years.
West’s discoverer, Dr. Leete, cannot convince him that he really is in...
[The entire page is 1367 words long]
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