Ionia: Land of Wise Men and Fair Women (1898) is a utopian novel by
Alexander Craig. Published with illustrations by renowned German
American artist J. C. Leyendecker, Ionia: Land of Wise Men and Fair
Women is Craig's only known novel. Noted for its blend of science
fiction and political theory, Craig's work is among the many novels of
the late-nineteenth century to predict the future of air travel. Unlike
other utopian tales of the time, however, the author's vision of a
perfect society is built on conservative values. It is also notable for
its depiction of severe punishment and overall anti-Semitism. When
London banker David Musgrave dies, he leaves his wife and young son a
sizable fortune. While raising Alexander, Musgrave's widow devoted
herself to philanthropy in their village. Now a young man forging his
own path in London, he learns of a newly discovered country in the
Himalayas. Alongside his friend Jason Delphion, he travels by aircraft
across the world to see Ionia for himself. There, he learns that the
people of the valley descended from Greek mercenaries who fled to the
Himalayas during the conquest of Persia by Alexander the Great.
Isolated, they lived for centuries as farmers and soldiers until,
returning from Europe, a prince brought knowledge of modern technology
back to Ionia. From then on, their society flourished, surpassing by far
any other in human history. With a beautifully designed cover and
professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Alexander Craig's
Ionia: Land of Wise Men and Fair Women is a classic work of utopian
literature reimagined for modern readers.
