A Crystal Age,

Annotated Content This edition has been annotated with the following unique content.Historical ContextDetailed 19th Century Analysis "Alas! had I mistaken the meaning of those strange words I had read?—was death the cure which that mysterious vessel promised to those who drank of its contents?"

A Crystal Age is a utopian novel written by W. H. Hudson, first published in 1887. The book is written in first-person narrative and has been noted for its foreshadowing of the "modern ecological mysticism" that would evolve a century later.

Sneak Peek

Then a great cry, as of one who suddenly sees a black phantom, rang out loud in the room, jarring my brain with the madness of its terror, and striking as with a hundred passionate hands on all the hidden harps in wall and roof; and the troubled sounds came back to me, now loud and now low, burdened with an infinite anguish and despair, as of voices of innumerable multitudes wandering in the sunless desolations of space, every voice reverberating anguish and despair; and the successive reverberations lifted me like waves and dropped me again, and the waves grew less and the sounds fainter, then fainter still, and died in everlasting silence.

Synopsis

An unnamed narrator, a modern man from the late 19th century, stumbles upon a hidden valley in the South American wilderness. In this valley, he discovers a utopian society known as the Crystal Age, characterized by simplicity, communal living, and harmony with nature.

The narrator immerses himself in this idyllic world, forms bonds with the people, and falls in love with Edith, a resident of the valley. However, as the narrator grapples with the desire to return to his own time and the challenges of reconciling two vastly different worlds, he faces a series of moral dilemmas. The novel presents a thought-provoking vision of a utopian society that contrasts sharply with the tumultuous times in which it was written, and explores timeless themes of nostalgia, societal ideals, and the human longing for a better existence. Its portrayal of a harmonious, nature-oriented community reflects the desire for an alternative to the industrialization and social complexities of the late 19th century.

A stunning reprint

At Ombre Bookshelf Publications we take every step possible to ensure the original integrity of this book has been upheld to its highest standard. This means that the texts in this story are unedited and unchanged from the original authors publication, preserving its earliest form for your indulgence. This title at its core is classic literature, it contains words strung together with romantic precision. Superb classic literature that you just do not see in the modern age.

Title DetailsOriginal 1887 TextClassic science fiction 5 x 8 InchesMatte CoverCream Paper