In 1829 Robert Southey published a book of his imaginary conversations with the original Utopian: Sir Thomas More; or Colloquies on the Progress and Prospects of Society. In a series of wide-ranging conversations between the Ghost of More and his own Spanish alter-ego, 'Montesinos', Southey develops a richly detailed panorama of British history since the 1530s, exploring issues of religious toleration, urban poverty, and constitutional reform, and mixing the genres of dialogue, commonplace book, and picturesque guide.
Introduction
-Origins, Composition, Plates (collaboration with Westall), Sales, Reception, Second Edition, Projected 'New Colloquies' (1831-2) with John Rickman
-Contexts, Guidebooks and Views, Catholic Emancipation and Reform, Southey's Romantic Historicism, Victorian Legacies
-Bibliographical features and apparatus, Extant Manuscripts
Reading Text
Facsimiles of Frontispiece and Title Page, Epigraphs, 'Dedication' and Preface
Colloquy I - Introduction
Colloquy II - The Improvement of the World
Colloquy III - The Druidical Stones - Visitations of Pestilence
Colloquy IV - Feudal Slavery - Growth of Pauperism
Colloquy V - Decay of the Feudal System - Edward VI - Alfred
Colloquy VI - Walla Crag - Owen of Lanark
Colloquy VII - The Manufacturing System
Colloquy VIII - Steam - War - Prospects of Europe
Colloquy IX - Derwentwater - Catholic Emancipation - Ireland
Colloquy X - Crosthwaite Church - St Kentigern - Part II - The Reformation - Dissenters - Methodists
Colloquy XI - Infidelity - Church Establishment
Colloquy XII - Blencathra - Threlkeld Tarn - The Cliffords - Part II - Privileged Orders · The American Governments
Colloquy XIII - The River Greta - Trade - Population - Colonies
Colloquy XIV - The Library
Colloquy XV - The Conclusion
Appendix
Notes and Illustrations
Editorial Notes
Editorial Appendices
-Appendix A · Reviews in Edinburgh Review; Monthly Review; Fraser's Magazine; selective critical heritage 1829
present
-Appendix B - Selective manuscript transcriptions and selective facsimiles (inc. Westall plates for 1829 and 1831/2 'lost' 2nd series)
-Appendix C - List of Southey's Sources
-Appendix D - Index to Topics