An Allegory of the Future
By Stephen B. Leacock
n this futurist story written by the popular Canadian humorist Stephen B. Leacock (1869-1944)
there are observations of human nature which are as refreshing today as when they were written
in 1911. Leacock describes a world where the inhabitants are clad in long-wearing suits of
asbestos; where death has been eliminated, although a person can be broken; and where only a
vestigal memory of Work remains, anything requiring effort was accomplished centuries agoin
short, a perfect world. This utopia is illustrated in this edition by photo-engravings of
drawings by Jan Vredeman de Vries, the Dutch architect, painter, and engraver of the 16th century.
His drawings show us a perfectly ordered world and serve as a flawless backdrop to Leacock's
future world. Additionally, photo-engravings of drawings by Peggy Gotthold have been made to
describe the character of the Man in Asbestos.
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This, the premiere edition of Foolscap Press, is limited to 150 copies. The book is 48 pages,
6 5/8 x 9 inches oblong and is printed letterpress on Mohawk Superfine paper on a Hacker
Hand Press. The type is set in Monotype Sans Serif and the books are bound by hand in
Japanese cloth over boards.
out of print
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