The Old Folks' Party / 1898

Name: The Old Folks' Party / 1898
Author: Edward Bellamy

By Edward Bellamy

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About This Book

A lively group of young club members decide to stage an old-age masquerade by adopting the dress and mannerisms they imagine for themselves decades hence, practicing behaviors and inviting an elder neighbor for verisimilitude. Their preparations prompt playful role-playing and thoughtful conversation about how tastes, dispositions, and identities change over time, the multiplicity of selves across life epochs, and how compressing those contrasts can reveal human inconsistencies. The piece balances social comedy with reflective speculation about aging and the imaginative work of anticipating one's future self.

About the Author

Edward Bellamy

Edward Bellamy was an American author and social activist, best known for his utopian novel "Looking Backward, 2000 to 1887," published in 1888. This influential work imagines a future society that has eliminated poverty and inequality through a system of collective ownership. Bellamy's writing often reflects his concerns about the social and economic issues of his time, advocating for reform and a more equitable society. In addition to his notable novel, he wrote several other works, including short stories and essays that further explore themes of love, society, and human potential. His ideas contributed to the early American socialist movement and continue to resonate in discussions about social justice.