A man from the late 19th century awakens in a utopian America of the year 2000, finding a society transformed by socialism and cooperation. Julian West, a wealthy Bostonian, falls into a hypnotic sleep in 1887 and awakens over a century later to a world radically different from his own. He must navigate this new society, understand its principles of equality and communal living, and grapple with the loss of his former life and the values he once held dear, all while a mysterious doctor attempts to uncover the secret of his prolonged slumber.

Edward Bellamy's "Looking Backward: 2000–1887" is a seminal work of utopian fiction that profoundly influenced late 19th and early 20th-century social and political thought. The novel's vision of a cooperative, socialist future resonated with many readers, sparking numerous Bellamy Clubs and contributing to the growth of socialist movements in the United States and abroad. While some critics lauded its idealistic portrayal of a classless society and its critique of industrial capitalism, others found its solutions overly simplistic or its depiction of individual freedom within a collectivist state problematic. Despite these critiques, the book remains a significant historical document, offering a compelling, albeit idealized, blueprint for social reform and a fascinating glimpse into the anxieties and aspirations of its era.