One small advantage of being in depths of documentary repeat season is the chance to catch up on favourite progs. I’ve frequently rambled on about Professor Richard Clay’s marvellous three-part series “Utopia: In Search of the Dream“, and so I was very pleased to note that the show is making a welcome return to BBC4 in the wee small hours starting tonight.
“Utopia” takes as its starting point the classic book by Sir Thomas More of the same name and goes on to cover myriad variations on that theme, from utopian visions that go wrong, the dystopian flip-sides, searching for your own personal inner fulfilment, how architecture affects our vision of life and so much more. It’s an exceptionally wide-ranging set of programmes, full of thought-provoking stuff; I highly recommend it and if you have access to BBC4 and/or the iPlayer you can give it a look starting from 00.30 tonight/tomorrow.
The Prof has an intriguing new documentary in the pipeline on the subject of the art of the meme, which sounds equally fascinating. It’s still awaiting a transmission date, and when it goes live I shall be covering it on the Ramblings in depth with some special posts – so watch this space… 😉
*****
As an aside…
I was reminded that I picked up a copy of More’s book back in April (I had one decades ago, but who knows where it went?); and as I posted at the time I was vaguely thinking about setting myself up a little utopian reading list, drawing on some suggestions in the Happy Reader magazine. I revisited that magazine and went on a rampage (oh, all right, a gentle rummage) around the house trying to find what books I already had that fitted into that list. And then I found a few more. And then I couldn’t find some I know I have somewhere (“Flatland”; “Looking Backwards”). And for those of you who love gratuitous pictures of books, I came up with this:
As you can see, there are some awfully interesting books on the pile – here they are without Thomas More blocking them. Yes, I *know* I have duplicates of “We”, “Nineteen Eighty-Four” and “Brave New World” (and there are at least two more copies of the Orwell somewhere in the house) – I’m afraid I have a congenital affliction that prevents me being able to get rid of multiple book copies…. (ahem)
However, what occurs to me looking at the pile is that many of the books suggested by the HR mag (and not all are here) were actually dystopian, not utopian. Admittedly, they began their list with “We”, and that’s certainly not a jolly book. Still – I do wonder if we are naturally drawn to the negative; it does seem that we as a race have trouble in dealing with the concept of perfection and a happy life. But as I’ve said before, we are questing, searching beings and maybe the ideal world would be just a teeny bit boring…
Anyway, one thing the rummage did was produce this behemoth (as in a big book, not a big cat):
I had totally forgotten I have “The Faber Book of Utopias“; it came out in 1999 and I suspect was a gift at the time and I couldn’t tell you if I’ve read it. However, it looks absolutely fascinating, with extracts from all manner of books, from More himself through to modern writers like Julian Barnes. I was very pleased to see that Margaret Cavendish’s “The Blazing World” is in there too, as I’ve been keen to have a look at her work. It’s 500 or so large format pages – I could be in there for some time…
So there you are. Another potential reading project, at which I will no doubt fail. Perhaps I should put the French Revolution and Utopia books in a room together and just let them fight it out, a la Swift’s “Battle of the Books“. Or give up work and sleep. Or stop buying books and thinking about reading projects and just damn well read! 🙂
Patricia Bryan
Nov 05, 2018 @ 07:19:27
Not as classy as yours but I have four copies of A Perfect Spy by John Le Carre and two copies each of Gormenghast and She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb…
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 05, 2018 @ 09:32:57
LOL! I don’t know about classy – many of my books are old and loved and a bit flimsy! But two copies of Gormenghast is definitely essential – I’m afraid I have several editions of Peake’s works…. 😉
heavenali
Nov 05, 2018 @ 08:26:08
Fascinating post Karen. Dystopian fiction seems popular just now doesn’t it, as is perhaps the idea of other kinds of Utopia. So that faber book of Utopias looks fascinating. Many of the books in your pile I haven’t read but I am a big fan of The Handmaid’s Tale and Ninteen Eight Four, I know I read Brave New World but can’t remember it. I recently read a book called Vox, which is a kind of dystopian thriller where women are reduced to being allowed 100 words of speech a day. A review soon, but it’s nothing like those classics.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 05, 2018 @ 09:50:00
Thanks Ali! Yes, there’s definitely a trend for the dystopian at the moment, which probably reflects our perception of the state of the world… 😦 I’ve read Nineteen Eighty-Four many times, but like you Brave New World was so long ago I can’t remember much. Vox sounds interesting – look forward to your thoughts on it!
Gilt and Dust
Nov 05, 2018 @ 10:25:38
This sounds fascinating. I love the idea of these themed reading profects.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 05, 2018 @ 11:02:10
So do I! Trouble is, I’m great at thinking them up but not so good at carrying them out… :s
Gilt and Dust
Nov 05, 2018 @ 11:03:02
Half the fun is making the list…
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 05, 2018 @ 11:13:10
🙂 True…..
Christine Harding
Nov 05, 2018 @ 11:24:37
If you want Utopian rather than dystopian, try William Morris’ News From Nowhere which is really rather charming, though stylistically he’s a little difficult to read, and he takes absolutely no account of the nasty side of human nature. It’s an idyllic dream, very much in keeping with aims of the arts and crafts movement and pre- raphaelite painters. Interesting to compare it to all those other rather jaundiced – and more possibly more realistic – views of the future.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 05, 2018 @ 11:31:00
Thanks Christine! I may even have owned a copy of this in the past thought whether I actually read it is another matter. Unfortunately, human nature is probably where most utopian visions fail. I sometimes almost think that you could split the human race into two kinds – the nice and the nasty. Maybe that’s a simplistic view, but it seems to me that there is a big divide between those who will do good for their fellows and those who want to just control and exploit.
Tredynas Days
Nov 05, 2018 @ 11:33:51
Interesting post. I’m not much of a fan of either utopian or dystopian fiction, maybe because I had to teach so much of it in the past. I suppose Gulliver’s Travels is an exception, since it includes both types in one book…As for multiple copies of books – seems normal.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 05, 2018 @ 11:53:52
Thanks Simon. I can imagine that teaching something for years might make you never want to revisit it… And shockingly, I don’t think I’ve actually ever read Gulliver, so perhaps this would be a good time to put that right.
Thanks also for the validation re multiple books…. 😉
SilverSeason
Nov 05, 2018 @ 12:00:04
For dystopian don’t forget The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. The book is much better than the movie. A good utopian novel is is A Visitor from Altruria by William Dean Howells — very readable and thoughtful.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 05, 2018 @ 13:59:24
Ah, how could I forget Atwood! She is nestling somewhere in that pile, and I love the book so much I’ve never watched the film. I’d not heard of Visitor, though, so thank you for the rec!
Hayley at RatherTooFondofBooks
Nov 05, 2018 @ 14:25:57
I really enjoyed reading this post, and I have serious envy over your gorgeous edition of Utopia – I just have a very battered copy from my Uni days but am tempted to replace it now! I’ve been wanting to re-read Herland and Looking Backwards so you’ve spurred me on to dig out my copies of those to read soon. I’ll definitely look up the documentary you mentioned, it sounds really interesting.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 05, 2018 @ 14:54:32
Thanks Hayley! I really do recommend the Utopia progs – brimming with ideas, any one of which could send you off down a wormhole exploring! I had I think an old black cover Penguin Utopia at one point, but who knows what happened to it? Lots of potentially interesting reading! 🙂
Michael
Nov 05, 2018 @ 18:32:31
Eclectic collection of utopian/dystopian fiction. I read We many years ago, but remember it fondly — not a jolly book, indeed. Earlier in the year I read a collection of contemporary utopian essays, several of which brought up the point that utopian lit often is so dull because it imagines a world void of conflict rather than a world equipped with better ways to prevent, address, and resolve conflict.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 06, 2018 @ 06:21:47
No, it’s interesting how the books which *aren’t* jolly are the ones which affect us and stay with us most. And I think those essays may have hit that nail right on the head – a bland world is never going to satisfy us.
Reese
Nov 06, 2018 @ 04:31:22
Not exactly utopian or dystopian, but in a similar area: novels that take place in what’s meant to be a utopia (but maybe ain’t…) Hawthorne’s Blithedale Romance or Mary McCarthy’s The Oasis.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 06, 2018 @ 06:19:43
Good thought! Human attempts at utopian settlements and the like so often fail! And I think I might have the McCarthy book somewhere… 🤣
madamebibilophile
Nov 06, 2018 @ 09:11:17
I do like a dystopian read! I’m not sure I’ve ever read a utopian novel (apart from More & Gulliver) but as you say, there are fewer of those around. I’m struggling to read dystopian novels at the moment though, as we seem to be living it…. far too close to home!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 06, 2018 @ 13:30:27
That’s the only trouble at the moment – the world seems to be going to hell in a handcart, and a reality is mostly worse than fiction. Perhaps a nice dystopian piece of work where everything comes right in the end is what I need! 🙂
Jane
Nov 06, 2018 @ 16:18:37
love the idea of a themed reading project and thanks for the tip re Utopia on BBC4, will definitely be watching. I’m afraid I haven’t read More or Gulliver so feel very behind, again!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 06, 2018 @ 19:06:56
I’m very good at thinking up the themed reading ideas, and hopeless at carrying them through. I think up the French Revolution then Utopia and now I’m trying to stop myself falling down a Baudelaire and Benjamin rabbit hole…
Liz Dexter
Nov 08, 2018 @ 07:41:54
Great stuff! Ella Minnow Pea fits into one or the other category, I think. Didn’t you read that a while ago? Right up your street if not.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 08, 2018 @ 09:27:31
I haven’t read it, but I have it in the back of my mind as one of those books I really should if I come across a copy on my travels!
Sarah
Nov 09, 2018 @ 03:04:29
Herland – now that’s a blast from the past! That was on a reading list for a course I did at Uni on Feminist Dystopias and I’d forgotten all about it. I can’t remember the book at all – uh oh, I feel a late night ordering session coming on…
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 09, 2018 @ 06:32:11
I read it decades ago too, so it’s a blur to me! There are so many books I should reread!
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