The City of the Sun

The City of the Sun Synopsis

The City of the Sun (1602) is a work of utopian fiction by Tommaso Campanella. Written while the author was imprisoned in Naples for his role in a conspiracy against Spanish rule in Calabria, The City of the Sun is regarded as an essential work of Renaissance political philosophy. Written in the tradition of Plato’s Republic and Timaeus, the text imagines a peaceful society ruled by a theocratic monarchy and dedicated to communal values. “It is divided into seven rings or huge circles named from the seven planets, and the way from one to the other of these is by four streets and through four gates, that look toward the four points of the compass.” Built with perfection in mind, the City of the Sun is organized from the largest details down to the smallest. Each citizen is employed, and no occupation is held in higher esteem than another. There are no servants, four-hour workdays, and no private goods or possessions. Everyone abides by a strict set of rules designed to keep them happy and healthy, and important decisions are made only after a painstaking analysis of the planets and stars has been performed. Written in dialogue form, The City of the Sun has intrigued and informed generations of political thinkers around the world. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Tommaso Campanella’s The City of the Sun is a classic work of Italian literature reimagined for modern readers.

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