Herland is a visionary feminist utopia novel first published in 1915 by trailblazing author Charlotte Perkins-Gilman. In this thought-provoking classic, three male explorers—Van, Jeff, and Terry—stumble upon a hidden civilization inhabited entirely by women. What they discover is a society unlike any they’ve known: peaceful, intelligent, highly organized, and thriving—without war, conflict, or even men.
Through the eyes of sociologist Van, listeners are invited into a land where motherhood is revered, cooperation triumphs over competition, and progress is built on logic, compassion, and education. As the men struggle to reconcile their expectations with reality, Herland challenges assumptions about gender, culture, and what it means to be civilized.
With sharp wit and revolutionary insight, Gilman dismantles patriarchal norms and imagines a world transformed by equality and reason. Over a century later, Herland remains a powerful and relevant exploration of gender, society, and human potential.
