Ionia: Land of Wise Men and Fair Women - Paperback

by Alexander Craig (Author), Mint Editions (Contribution by)

Ionia: Land of Wise Men and Fair Women (1898) is a utopian novel by Alexander Craig. Published with illustrations by renowned German American artist J. C. Leyendecker, Ionia: Land of Wise Men and Fair Women is Craig's only known novel. Noted for its blend of science fiction and political theory, Craig's work is among the many novels of the late-nineteenth century to predict the future of air travel. Unlike other utopian tales of the time, however, the author's vision of a perfect society is built on conservative values. It is also notable for its depiction of severe punishment and overall anti-Semitism. When London banker David Musgrave dies, he leaves his wife and young son a sizable fortune. While raising Alexander, Musgrave's widow devoted herself to philanthropy in their village. Now a young man forging his own path in London, he learns of a newly discovered country in the Himalayas. Alongside his friend Jason Delphion, he travels by aircraft across the world to see Ionia for himself. There, he learns that the people of the valley descended from Greek mercenaries who fled to the Himalayas during the conquest of Persia by Alexander the Great. Isolated, they lived for centuries as farmers and soldiers until, returning from Europe, a prince brought knowledge of modern technology back to Ionia. From then on, their society flourished, surpassing by far any other in human history.

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Back Jacket

When David Musgrave dies, he leaves his family a sizable fortune. While raising Alexander, Musgrave's widow devotes herself to philanthropy in their village. When Alexander learns of a newly discovered country in the Himalayas, he journeys by aircraft to learn more about its seemingly perfect society. Ionia: Land of Wise Men and Fair Women is a novel by Alexander Craig.