Question

Which work of William Morris is a utopian socialist science fiction novel?

• A. The Well at the World’s End
• B. News from Nowhere
• C. The Life and Death of Jason
• D. The Defence of Guenevere

Answer 1

Answer:

B. News from Nowhere

William Morris and 'News from Nowhere'

• 'News from Nowhere' is a seminal work of utopian socialist fiction written by William Morris.
• It was first published in 1890 as a serial in the socialist journal Commonweal before being released as a book.
• The novel is considered a key text in early science fiction and utopian literature.
• Morris, a prominent figure in the Arts and Crafts Movement, used the novel to express his socialist ideals and critique Victorian society.
• William Morris (1834-1896) was an English textile designer, poet, novelist, translator, and socialist activist.
• He was a co-founder of the Kelvin Association in 1862 and a founding member of the Socialist League in 1884.
• The novel presents a futuristic, idyllic vision of an England that has undergone a socialist revolution, moving away from industrialization and capitalism.
• In this utopia, society is organized around principles of cooperation, communal living, and artistic production, emphasizing manual labor and craftsmanship over mass production.
• The protagonist, William Guest, falls asleep and awakens in the 21st century to find a transformed England, free from poverty, pollution, and social hierarchy.
• Key themes explored include the rejection of industrial capitalism, the importance of art and beauty in everyday life, and the realization of a classless society.
• 'News from Nowhere' is often compared to Edward Bellamy's Looking Backward (1888), another influential utopian novel, though Morris's work offers a more anarchist and less centralized vision.
• The novel serves as an important example of literary socialism and its impact on the development of speculative fiction.