"Erewhon" chronicles the adventures of Higgs, a young man whose curiosity leads him beyond the familiar into the mysterious. He embarks on a journey that reveals a society with values and customs that challenge everything he knows about morality and progress. Through Higgs's eyes, the reader discovers a parallel world where illness is criminalized and machinery is feared.

Curiosity Ignited

At just twenty-two, Higgs finds himself working on a sheep farm, often staring at the forbidding mountain range that marks the boundary of his known world. His imagination is captured by thoughts of what might lie beyond those imposing peaks. An old native named Chowbok, with whom he shares his curiosity, claims that crossing into the land beyond is strictly forbidden, a revelation that only fuels Higgs's interest. Chowbok's bizarre reactions and unsettling cries when pressed for more information further intensify Higgs's determination to explore the unknown. Ultimately, he convinces Chowbok to join him on an expedition into the mountains.

A Solo Journey

Their search for a path through the mountains proves fruitless until Higgs independently discovers a small valley that offers a way forward. When he returns to inform Chowbok, he is met with the sight of the older man fleeing back to the plains, leaving Higgs to continue the journey alone. Overcoming treacherous cliffs and fording a river on a makeshift reed raft, he eventually reaches lush, expansive plains punctuated by eerie manlike statues that emit haunting sounds in the wind—a possible explanation for Chowbok’s previous behavior.

Encountering Erewhonians

Higgs awakens the next morning to the sight of two young women herding goats nearby. Alarmed by his presence, the women summon several men, all of whom are strikingly handsome, to inspect the stranger. Once convinced of Higgs's humanity, they escort him to a nearby village. There, his belongings are thoroughly examined, and his watch is confiscated, sparking an unusual interest. Allowed to leave only after an exhaustive medical examination, Higgs soon realizes the significance of the watch when he visits a museum filled with defunct machinery. His curiosity met with confinement, he finds himself jailed.

Understanding Erewhon

Imprisoned, Higgs learns the language and the peculiar social norms of Erewhon, a land where illness is treated as a crime punished by imprisonment. Conversely, acts of theft and murder are met with compassion and medical care. It is during his incarceration that he receives a surprise summons to meet the king and queen. He is invited to be the guest of Nosnibor, a man who once embezzled funds from a widow but now is on the mend from his "illness." Ironically, the widow faces trial and punishment for her gullibility in the matter.

Life at the Capital

In the capital city, Higgs resides with Nosnibor and regularly attends court, where he is received favorably due to his rare blond hair. He learns about the country's past, including a significant shift from vegetarianism to a more pragmatic view on meat consumption, precipitated by philosophical arguments centuries prior. Higgs also discovers the destruction of machinery two hundred years ago, spurred by a scientist's warning that machines could eventually dominate humanity if left unchecked.

A Unique Economy and Religion

The economy in Erewhon is especially intriguing, featuring two forms of currency: one for spiritual purposes and the other for trade. The spiritual currency, housed in Musical Banks, is highly esteemed despite its lack of practical value. Erewhon's state religion venerates qualities like love, fear, and wisdom, with the goddess Ydgrun embodying both an ideal and a capricious persona. Higgs's connection with Arowhena, Nosnibor’s daughter, deepens as she enlightens him about Erewhon's beliefs, and...