Utopian England

<p>England in the early part of the twentieth century was rich in utopian ventures - diverse and intriguing in their scope and aims. Two world wars an economic depression and the emergence of fascist states in Europe were all a spur to idealists to seek new limits - to escape from the here and now and to create sanctuaries for new and better lives.<br>Dennis Hardy explores this fascinating history of utopian ideals the lives of those who pursued them and the utopian communities they created.<br>Some communities were fired by a long tradition of land movements others by thoughts of more humane ways of building towns. In turn there were experiments devoted to the arts; to the promotion of religious doctrine; and to a variety of political causes. And some were just 'places of the imagination'.<br><em>Utopian England</em> is about just one episode in the perennial search for perfection but what is revealed has lessons that extend well beyond a particular time and place. So long as there are failings in society so long as rationality is not enough there will continue to be a place for thinking the impossible for going in search of utopia.</p>