The Purple Cloud
The Purple Cloud by M. P. Shiel is a significant work in the realm of science fiction, published by Penguin Publishing Group on November 27, 2012. This edition spans 352 pages and is presented in English. The novel tells the story of Adam Jeffson, who becomes the last man on Earth after a sweet-smelling cloud of poisonous gas devastates the planet. As he searches for any remaining human life, Jeffson’s journey leads him into madness, resulting in chaos and destruction.
Readers will encounter a blend of strange, macabre, and fantastical elements as they delve into this landmark narrative that laid the groundwork for apocalyptic fiction. The book explores themes of isolation and the human condition in the face of catastrophe. This edition also includes a new introduction by literary scholar John Sutherland, which provides insight into the apocalyptic themes and the author’s life. The Purple Cloud stands as a notable entry in the Penguin Classics series, which is known for its authoritative texts and scholarly enhancements.
Official synopsis Publisher
The first great science fiction novel of the twentieth century—now available from Penguin Classics
Strange, macabre, and, fantastical, M. P. Shiel’s The Purple Cloud is a landmark work that heralded the genre of apocalyptic fiction. It tells the grandly bleak story of Adam Jeffson—the first man to reach the North Pole and the last man left alive on earth. A sweet-smelling cloud of poisonous gas has devastated the world, and as Jeffson travels the stricken globe in search of human life, he slowly succumbs to madness, unleashing fire and destruction on his planet. A new introduction by literary scholar John Sutherland explores The Purple Cloud‘s apocalyptic themes and Shiel’s colorful private life.
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
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