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