The Twentieth Century (Early Classics of Science Fiction) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Arthur B. Evans (Editor), Philippe Willems (Translator, Contributor) "The month of September 1952 was drawing to a close..." (more)
Key Phrases: telephonoscope screen, decennial revolutions, masculine party, New York, Philippe Ponto, Louise Muche (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Although largely forgotten now, the French writer Albert Robida was a pioneer of science fiction. ...(H)is 1882 roman d'anticipation The Twentieth Century (is) a funny, sometimes cynical, frequently prophetic soap opera about a young woman who embarks upon a career search in the future worlds of 1952, gets caught up in a revolutionary struggle, and winds up having a brand-new continent named after her...."--Joshua Glenn, Boston Sunday Globe

Review

"The Twentieth Century is the literary equivalent of discovering King Tut's tomb and marveling that such wonderful things were there for all these years but concealed. Wesleyan's edition will allow us to see at last one of France's hidden treasures." (Paul Alkon, Professor of English, University of Southern California )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 434 pages
• Publisher: Wesleyan (March 17, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0819566802
• ISBN-13: 978-0819566805
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #749,337 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Robida's social commentary is still relevant today, May 3, 2004

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

In his remarkable science fiction novel, The Twentieth Century, the late Albert Robida (1848-1926) attempted to predict what life would be like in decades composing the 20th Century. He envisioned women dueling over gossip columns, Italy transforming into a kind of "European Park"; and the continental United States dived into Chinese spheres in the west and Germanic spheres in the east. Part of the outstanding "Early Classics of Science Fiction" series from Wesleyan University Press, The Twentieth Century is translated into English by Philippe Willems and is enhanced with more than 300 original drawings by Robida. More than 120 years have passed since this remarkable novel's first appearance. What is perhaps most amazing of all is how much of Robida's social commentary is still relevant today. The Twentieth Century is highly recommended reading, especially for anyone who enjoys the kind of speculative and political science fiction commentaries that H.G. Wells and Jules Verne were so noted for.