Erewhon

Samuel Butler's satirical book, Erewhon, or Erewhon; or, Over the Range was first published in 1872 under an alias. Butler's fame throughout his lifetime was based on Erewhon's popularity, which he claimed as his own when it received widespread acclaim. It was the only piece of work Butler profited from. Erewhon, the name of the realm where the story takes place, is an anagram for 'nowhere.' With the norm of travel in a make-believe nation, the book starts out as an adventure story. The narrator of the novel initially finds Erewhon to be utopian in its contempt for things like money, which only serves to elevate one's position and has no intrinsic value, and machines, which are forbidden because they pose a threat to human survival. Additionally, Erewhon has ruled that illness is a crime for which the sick are imprisoned, and that crime is a disease for which offenders are taken to the hospital. The unidentified narrator's utopian ideals and beliefs in unending growth are dispelled as he continues to explore the Erewhon institutions. The book brings a new perspective which makes for a thoroughly entertaining read for everyone.