The Young Ebenezer

Abstract

Upon the publication in October 1898 of To-morrow: A Peaceful Path to Real Reform by Ebenezer Howard, The Times accorded it the modest tribute of a short notice on its book review page. The reviewer was clearly interested, even entertained, as he put it; but equally clearly he placed the garden city in the category of visionary schemes which, however attractive, are impossible of realisation. ‘Mr. Howard’, he wrote, ‘is not content with half measures; like Sir Thomas More, he builds a Utopia — a charming “Garden City” of 32,000 people in the midst of a little territory, all owned, planned, built and generally directed by the community itself. The details of administration, taxation, etc., work out to perfection, and it is quite evident that if Mr. Howard could be made town clerk of such a city he would carry it on to everybody’s satisfaction. The only difficulty is to create it; but that is a small matter to Utopians.’¹