The New Paul and Virginia; Or, Positivism on an Island

by W. H. (William Hurrell) Mallock

"The New Paul and Virginia; Or, Positivism on an Island" by W. H. Mallock is a satirical dystopian novel published in 1878. When a steamship explodes, a famous beauty and a renowned intellectual professor wash ashore on a tropical island. The professor preaches his philosophy of Positivism and the Religion of Humanity, expecting enlightened happiness to follow. But as survivors grapple with death, drunkenness, and desire, his lofty theories collide disastrously with human nature, leading to an ironic and devastating conclusion.