Herland
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3.5 • 82 Ratings
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Publisher Description
An Apple Books Classic edition.
What would happen if men weren’t necessary for humanity’s survival? How would society adjust? Written in 1915 by well-known social reformer and author Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Herland addresses these questions and more. First published in Gilman’s magazine, The Forerunner, the novel not-so-subtly puts forth the notion that a matriarchal world would be a huge improvement over our current situation.
When students Van, Terry, and Jeff set out to find the mythical land of women they’ve heard stories about, they are shocked to find out that it really does exist and that it’s a well-run, advanced utopia. In fact, the only things missing in Herland are violence, poverty, competition…and men. But can this feminist utopia survive its first violent crime in over two thousand years? And will the arrival of men forever change Herland, or will Herland forever change men? Full of suspense, romance, adventure, and betrayal, Gilman’s novel prompts us to question our beliefs and assumptions about society—and imagine how it could be different.
Customer Reviews
*A Woman’s World*
This is one of those books that I really do not know how to describe it apart from saying, imagine a world where all the male race were either dead or killed in war and only women remained. Hence the title ‘Herland’
It is about women who got on with life without fear of the men, conflict or war and somehow they managed by asexual means they reproduce. All the babies were female and they continued with life and were fully self sufficient.
One day 3 male explorers happen upon their land and their old fashioned ideas clash with what the role of women really are. It made me cringe when the men said only they were able to work and women belonged in the home, there was a lot of that in there.
I really cannot say I enjoyed it but I think the most fascinating thing for me is the author who was a feminist ahead of her time and had a difficult childhood, but she was a very resourceful character.
The ending
I thought the ending was a little boring but overall very well written and read