The Collected Works of Edward Bellamy (eBook)

Edward Bellamy (1850-1898) was a pioneering American author and social thinker, best known for his utopian novel 'Looking Backward 2000-1887'. Bellamy was born in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, on March 26, 1850. Educated in law and the arts, he ultimately turned to writing to express his vision for society. 'Looking Backward', published in 1888, catapulted him to fame. The book presents a future society based on socialist ideals where poverty, crime, and war have been eliminated. Although it was one of his earliest works, it remains the centerpiece of his legacy, greatly influencing the socialist movement in the United States and worldwide. In 'Looking Backward', Bellamy introduced the concept of 'credit cards', presaging their ubiquitous use in contemporary society. Apart from his famous utopian tome, Bellamy published numerous other books and short stories, many of which are compiled in 'The Collected Works of Edward Bellamy'. His literary style often adopted a predictive and philosophical lens, dissecting the flaws of capitalist societies and exploring alternative socio-economic structures. In his follow-up to 'Looking Backward', the lesser-known 'Equality' (1897), Bellamy continued to detail his vision for a harmonious future world. Although his later works did not reach the same level of acclaim, they solidified his reputation as an influential and prescient voice for progress and reform. Bellamy died on May 22, 1898, leaving behind a body of work that continues to be studied and admired for its imagination and bold engagement with social and political themes.