Product Description

For over a hundred years the Pacific island of Pala has been the scene of a unique experiment in civilisation. Its inhabitants live in a society where western science has been brought together with eastern philosophy and humanism to create a paradise on earth. When cynical journalist, Will Farnaby, arrives to search for information about potential oil reserves on Pala, he quickly falls in love with the way of life on the island. Soon the need to complete his mission becomes an intolerable burden...In counterpoint to Brave New World and Ape and Essence, in Island Huxley gives us his vision of utopia.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4798 in Books
• Published on: 2008-07-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Review
"'One of the truly great philosophical novels' The Times"

The Times
'One of the truly great philosophical novels'

About the Author
Aldous Huxley was born on 26th July 1894 near Godalming, Surrey. He began writing poetry and short stories in his early twenties, but it was his first novel, 'Crome Yellow' (1921), which established his literary reputation. This was swiftly followed by 'Antic Hay' (1923), 'Those Barren Leaves' (1925) and 'Point Counter Point' (1928) - bright, brilliant satires in which Huxley wittily but ruthlessly passed judgement on the shortcomings of contemporary society. For most of the 1920s Huxley lived in Italy and an account of his experiences there can be found in 'Along The Road' (1925). The great novels of ideas, including his most famous work 'Brave New World' (published in 1932, this novel warned against the dehumanising aspects of scientific and material 'progress') and the pacifist novel 'Eyeless in Gaza' (1936) were accompanied by a series of wise and brilliant essays, collected in volume form under titles such as 'Music at Night' (1931) and 'Ends and Means' (1937). In 1937, at the height of his fame, Huxley left Europe to live in California, working for a time as a screenwriter in Hollywood. As the West braced itself for war, Huxley came increasingly to believe that the key to solving the world's problems lay in changing the individual through mystical enlightenment. The exploration of the inner life through mysticism and hallucinogenic drugs was to dominate his work for the rest of his life. His beliefs found expression in both fiction ('Time Must Have a Stop', 1944 and 'Island', 1962) and non-fiction ('The Perennial Philosophy', 1945, 'Grey Eminence', 1941 and the famous account of his first mescalin experience, 'The Doors of Perception', 1954. Huxley died in California on 22nd November 1963.

Customer Reviews

The ideal society that would never work
Brave New World is the Book in which Huxley gained a reputable name in the world of literature, Island is often seen as the sequel to Brave New World in the sense that it is Brave New World's exact opposite.
In Island, Huxley portray's his ideal society which is free from weapons, oppression and fear and is replaced by holistic health care, A form of Buddism and a life enhancing drug (which Huxley novel would be complete without it?). Huxley seems to be trying to convince people to get rid of their weapons and hatred and instead rule our lives with logic and caring.
The island is described from an outsiders (the main narrative is given from someone who was shipwrecked on the island) view of the surroundings, this is very usefull as it highlights all of the differences between "our civilised" society and the one Huxley portrays (as better). This book may be seen as an arguement against totalitareanism and even Christianity offering free thinking, expression, anarchy and Buddism in its place.
In my list of top ten books, Island features very highly.

A provocative, optimistic, and beautifully written book
I read 1984 and brave new world, and as I am sure was the case for most people, my perspectives on society, science, and progress were altered, irreversably, or so I thought. These great dystopian novels coloured and darkened my perception of our modern landscape of cctv, GM foods and shrink wrapped pre-proccessed art. Then I read Island and had my optimism reaffirmed. Island shows us that a society based on anarchist principles could conceivably be a better one than our own, without reading like psuedo philosophical new age toss. Huxley is beautifully persuesive in his writing, and manages seamlessly, to provide coherrent, intellegent arguments without ever fracturing the dramatic and engrossing narrative. I think everyone will connect with the main character's periodic visions of his fellow men as maggots, and even the seemingly pessimistic ending leaves you hopeful.

Beautiful
This book has no match. Reading it I was filled with joy, I wept, I pondered, I laughed, I was made angry. It is a masterpiece of love and pain and full of insight into how the world works, and how it could work. Read it, and you will be left "a sadder and a wiser man", but also perhaps one with more dreams.