{"product_id":"9780809323418","title":"The Scarlet Empire","description":"\u003cp\u003eSuccessful businessman David M. Parry wrote \u003ci\u003eThe Scarlet Empire\u003c\/i\u003e in 1906, a time when dystopian and utopian novels were sufficiently popular in the United States and Great Britain that dozens were published in each country. Utopian fiction described perfect societies, usually socialistic and communitarian. Dystopian novels depicted degenerate societies, often occurring from the same approaches.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn their introduction to this reprint, historians Jerome M. Clubb and Howard W. Allen argue that Parry’s novel and others like it display the opinions, feelings, and reactions of different sects of society at the turn of the century. Rapid changes in the United States caused mixed emotions about the future of the country. Many novels like \u003ci\u003eThe Scarlet Empire\u003c\/i\u003e were used to criticize current measures, investigate proposed reform, and show these proposals in either a negative or a positive light.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne of the most popular utopian novels of the time, Edward Bellamy’s \u003ci\u003eLooking Backward\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003ewas written with the intention of promoting the reconciliation of equality and liberty. Bellamy’s novel advocated a socialist government, a perfect utopian society with equality for men, women, and children, consolidated businesses, and strict government control. Clubb and Allen observe that these changes directly reflect reforms that were being proposed by the younger generation at the turn of the century.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e           \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Scarlet Empire\u003c\/i\u003e is said to be a direct response to \u003ci\u003eLooking Backward\u003c\/i\u003e. It\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003eis intended as a supplemental text in American history, American studies, and popular culture courses. Eight original illustrations by Hermann C. Wall enhance the text.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Southern Illinois University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47020508578032,"sku":"9780809323418","price":23.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780809323418_p0.jpg?v=1763739697","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780809323418","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}