Includes bibliographical references (p. [270]-286) and index.
Contents
Refuge and a hope -- Society's maternal bed: idealization of communal life -- Commitment: the problem and the theory -- Live in love and union: commitment mechanisms in nineteenth century communes -- Comforts of commitment: issues in group life -- Away from community -- Retreat from Utopia -- They also serve: communes with missions -- Limits of Utopia.
Summary
Combines work on American Utopian communities in the 19th century with the modern commune movement. Those interested in the older communities will learn much about the present movements while readers wanting information on communes today will find it, but with a distinctly historical perspective.
