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.