A worthy utopian tale, but like many imagined societies, this one seemed ponderous and too low on clever insights. ( )

Interesting ideas and an enjoyable premise, but at times boring. Probably better if reading as a Victorian. ( )

I first read this about a decade ago and didn't remember much aside from the sporking of vegetarianism. I now understand a lot more about the context of when this was written and I think was able to get a bit more value out of it.

Interestingly some stuff seemed still relevant today, especially the part about smashing statues - the Erewhonians believing that all statues should be destroyed after 50 years unless a jury of people picked from the street can be found to declare it should stay. With the debates going on right now, perhaps we ought to take a page from their book!

The chapters on machines also show that the fear of the inevitable machine takeover is not new.

On my last reading I thought that the "crime is a sickness" think was satirising rehabilitative justice, which it may well be, but this time I realised that the whole "sickness is a crime" thing is pretty much just eugenics laid out bare. Considering some of the book was a response to Darwin, it's possible this was intended.



( )

Doesn't go anywhere--just circles the same idea again and again. Probably great reading for someone who enjoys this sort of "idea" book, but I prefer a more balanced ratio of ideas and events, to say nothing of dialogue. ( )

Recenzoj
Citaĵo
„ La titolo montras, pri kio temas; aŭ, ĉar la Esperanta literaturo estas nun tiel multĝenra, sufiĉas loki la verkon apud Vojaĝo al Kazohinio de Szathmári. Kiam mi legis ĝin en la angla antaŭ jaroj, ĝi ne multe plaĉis al mi; sed nun, leginte ĝin en Esperanto, mi entuziasmiĝis. ”
— julio-aŭgusto 1979, D.B. Gregor, Esperanto, paĝo 133