A book to make the socialist satisfied with things as they are. A young socialist weary of life plunges into the sea. He wakens in a lost Atlantis, known as the Scarlet Empire. Here is a social democracy in which people dwell in slavery; the state owes every man a living which it grants in a grudging sense, food, conversation, education and marriage, all being limited. The hero sickens of his satiety of scholastic practices, and after gruesome experiences escapes with three companions to his own New York world.
“‘The scarlet empire’ is not a discussion of socialism. It is rather a developed misconception of socialism. It is a house built on the illusive sands of fundamental error or false premises.” Ellis O. Jones.
– Arena. 36: 330. S. ’06. 2050w. Critic. 48: 573. Je. ’06. 80w.
“Crudely written as it is, it sets forth a skilfully constructed plot and shows a certain enthusiasm for his subject on the part of the author, but throughout the book the great aim seems to be not only to satirize all the doctrines that Socialists hold dear, but even, where possible, to burlesque them.”
+ – Lit. D. 32: 604. Ap. 21, ’06. 1420w.
“The satire is light but cleverly aimed.”
+ N. Y. Times. 11: 385. Je. 16, ’06. 120w.
“As a story the book is fairly readable, but as a contribution to the discussion of the social problem it has no slightest claim to consideration.”
+ – Outlook. 82: 858. Ap. 14, ’06. 80w.