Henry Morley ~ Ideal Commonwealths [1893, Project Gutenberg]

https://bit.ly/PotPourriEN [original also included, in color and b&w variants, in all 3 files bookmarks were added] Ideal Commonwealths is a notable 1885 compilation edited by Henry Morley , a prominent English academic and professor of English literature. The work serves as a foundational collection of utopian and socio-political fiction, exploring various historical visions of a perfect society. Included Works The volume features excerpts and complete texts from some of the most influential thinkers in Western philosophy: "Utopia" by Thomas More: The seminal work imagining a society based on common ownership and equality. "New Atlantis" by Francis Bacon: A depiction of a technologically and scientifically advanced island nation. "The City of the Sun" by Tommaso Campanella: A vision of a theocratic, communal society. "Lycurgus" by Plutarch: A classical perspective on the disciplined Spartan society. "Mundus Alter et Idem" (fragment) by Joseph Hall: A satirical commentary on contemporary European social structures. "Oceana" by James Harrington: Included in some expanded editions, focusing on republican governance. Historical Significance Originally published as part of Morley’s Universal Library (Number 25), the book was intended to make classic literature affordable and accessible to the general public. It remains a critical resource for scholars of political science and history, as it traces the evolution of utopian thought from classical times through the Renaissance.