Edward Bellamy was an American author and social activist, best known for his utopian novel, Looking Backward, published in 1888. The book imagines a future society in the year 2000, where social and economic inequalities have been eliminated through a system of cooperative ownership. Bellamy's ideas inspired the Bellamy Clubs, which promoted his vision of socialism and influenced the progressive movement in the United States. Born on March 26, 1850, in Chicopee, Massachusetts, Bellamy initially worked as a journalist before turning to fiction. His writings emphasized themes of social justice and economic reform, making him a significant figure in the late 19th-century literary and political landscape. Bellamy passed away on May 22, 1898, but his ideas continue to resonate in discussions about social equity.