57 pages • 1 hour read
Edward BellamyLooking Backward
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1888A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy follows Julian West, who falls asleep in 1887 amid labor riots and wakes up in the year 2000 to find an idealized socialist society that has eradicated many of the social ills of his time through sweeping reforms, including nationalized industries and equal wealth distribution, profoundly transforming his views on society and morality. The novel harbors offensive ideas about gender and race, contains dated language describing people of color, and depicts a patriarchal society where men predominantly hold leadership roles.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Edward Bellamy's Looking Backward is praised for its innovative vision of a future utopian society, providing thought-provoking commentary on social and economic reforms. Critics commend its imaginative narrative and social ideals, but some find its characters underdeveloped and the prose dated. Despite these flaws, it remains a seminal work in utopian literature.
Who Should Read Looking Backward?
A reader who would enjoy Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy is likely interested in utopian literature and social reform. Fans of dystopian and utopian classics like George Orwell’s 1984 or Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World will appreciate Bellamy’s vision of a future society marked by equality and advanced technology.