“Huxley’s final word about the human condition and the possibility of the good society. . . . Island is a welcome and in many ways unique addition to the select company of books—from Plato to now—that have presented, in imaginary terms, a coherent view of what society is not but might be.” — New York Times Book ReviewThe final novel from Aldous Huxley, Island is a provocative counterpoint to his worldwide classic Brave New World, in which a flourishing, ideal society located on a remote Pacific island attracts the envy of the outside world.In the novel Huxley considered his most important, he transports us to the remote Pacific island of Pala, where an ideal society has flourished for 120 years. Inevitably, this island of bliss attracts the envy and enmity of the surrounding world. A conspiracy is underway to take over Pala, and events are set in motion when an agent of the conspirators, a newspaperman named Faranby, is shipwrecked there. What Faranby doesn't expect is how his time with the people of Pala will revolutionize all his values and—to his amazement—give him hope.
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Island (Perennial Classics)
“Huxley’s final word about the human condition and the possibility of the good society. . . . Island is a welcome and in many ways unique addition to the select company of books—from Plato to now—that have presented, in imaginary terms, a coherent view of what society is not but might be.” — New York Times Book ReviewThe final novel from Aldous Huxley, Island is a provocative counterpoint to his worldwide classic Brave New World, in which a flourishing, ideal society located on a remote Pacific island attracts the envy of the outside world.In the novel Huxley considered his most important, he transports us to the remote Pacific island of Pala, where an ideal society has flourished for 120 years. Inevitably, this island of bliss attracts the envy and enmity of the surrounding world. A conspiracy is underway to take over Pala, and events are set in motion when an agent of the conspirators, a newspaperman named Faranby, is shipwrecked there. What Faranby doesn't expect is how his time with the people of Pala will revolutionize all his values and—to his amazement—give him hope.
Popular Reviews(1)
Reviewed by Emil UffelmannI have read this book twice before, years ago. Back then, I absorbed it. I found myself yearning for a place like Pala. Now, years later, having grown into a man I have read it again a third time and my opinion has changed. Besides the style of writing, which can be annoying and pretentious at times, I found many of his ideas to be extremely simple-minded, almost cringy. I found the book to have many unnecessary dichotomies (e.g muscle men and peter pans) and ludicrous ideas (e.g. destiny control). Having said that, I still think Aldous Huxley has tried something in this book no one else has. To imagine a society in which every aspect of communal life (spiritual, familial, political, academic etc) is shaped to help each individual live a life of integrity, wellbeing and self-actualization. While I found myself having knee-jerk reactions to some of his ideas, others I found very interesting and thought-provoking. Even if his portrayal of a perfect society isn’t for me, it did force me to look at many aspects of our society with a critical eye. Aspects that are so fixed, they’re almost invisible. I just wish someone would write a similar book but acknowledge the complexity of life and the infinite variety of humans.