William Hurrell Mallock, a prominent British philosopher, wrote this 1878 English satire based upon the religious liberalism or scientific optimism of Arnold, Pater, Huxley, Tyndall, Ruskin, Jowett, and other leading Victorians. Dedicated to `Violet Fane', this Peacockian symposium in novel-form introduces her as Mrs Sinclair. Other characters admittedly drawn from life are "Dr. Jenkinson" (Jowett), "Mr. Herbert" (Ruskin), "Mr. Storks" (Huxley) and "Mr. Stockton" (Tyndal), "Mr. Luke" (Matthew Arnold), "Mr. Rose" (Walter Pater). An important title in the history of utopian literature.. Mallock was also known for his books on atheism and socialism as well.