Table of Contents

Contents: Ideal Commonwealths: The Emerging Tradition - Castles in the Air: Marx, Engels and Utopian Socialism - Mobilising Myths: Utopia and Social Change in Georges Sorel and Karl Mannheim - Utopian Hope: Ernst Bloch and Reclaiming the Future - The Education of Desire: The Rediscovery of William Morris - An American Dream: Herbert Marcuse and the Transformation of the Psyche - A Hundred Flowers: Contemporary Utopian Studies - Future Perfect: Retheorising Utopia.

Preface to the Second Edition. Acknowledgements to the First Edition. Introduction. chapter 1 - Ideal Commonwealths: The Emerging Tradition. chapter 2 - Castles in the Air: Marx, Engels and Utopian Socialism. chapter 3 - Mobilising Myths: Utopia and Social Change in Georges Sorel and Karl Mannheim. chapter 4 - Utopian Hope: Ernst Bloch and Reclaiming the Future. chapter 5 - The Education of Desire: The Rediscovery of William Morris. chapter 6 - An American Dream: Herbert Marcuse and the Transformation of the Psyche. chapter 7 - A Hundred Flowers: Contemporary Utopian Studies. chapter 8 - Future Perfect: Retheorising Utopia. Notes. Select Bibliography. Index.

About the Author

Ruth Levitas is Professor of Sociology at the University of Bristol. Her books include The Ideology of the New Right, The Interpretation of Official Statistics (co-edited with Will Guy), The Inclusive Society? Social Exclusion and New Labour, and Poverty and Social Exclusion in Britain (co-edited with Christina Pantazis and David Gordon). Utopia as Method: The Imaginary Reconstitution of Society, the sequel to this book, is forthcoming.

Reviews

"This book is essential reading for anyone with an interest in utopia." (Professor Lucy Sargisson, School of Politics, University of Nottingham) "Writing with clarity and grace, Levitas offers a sustained, intelligent, and critical examination of major definitions of utopia ... a strong and significant book." (Professor Peter Stillman, Department of Political Science, Vassar College) "A thorough introduction to utopian studies that expertly treads a line between depth, breadth and accessibility, this is an excellent first stop for any student on the road to (and through) utopia." (Dr Nathaniel Coleman, School of Architecture, Newcastle University)