William Margrie publishes The Story of a Great Experiment: How England Produced the First Superman

1927. Watts publishing house releases William Margrie's The Story of a Great Experiment. This novel was one of several at the beginning of the twentieth century, which explored popular eugenic themes. Though some were critical of eugenic projects, many of these texts promoted a eugenic utopia. The Story of a Great Experiment falls into this latter category (Stableford, 2006).

The Story of a Great Experiment took place in the near future of the early twentieth century. In this time, Margrie suggests that mankind needed eugenics in order to continue evolving. He also suggests that the primary role of women is to breed better men, in order to create a "superman". This goal brings the world closer to a utopia. At one point in the novel, the author says to his superman protagonist “you have given the world a new hope, a new inspiration, a new faith” (The Spectator, 1927, p.19), reinforcing the importance of eugenic messages.

Margrie's work was met with mixed reviews upon its release, and was described as “a diminutive novel” (The Spectator, 1927, p. 19). It remains an example of the prevalence of eugenic themes in literature and popular culture in the early twentieth century, and the potential benefits of a eugenic future.

-Sheila Gibbons and Colette Leung

  • Mr William Margrie has written a very odd book about superman… (1927, September 9). The Spectator, 19.

  • Stableford, B.M. (2006). Science Fact and Science Fiction: An Encyclopedia. New York: Routledge Taylor and Francis Group.

William Margrie publishes The Story of a Great Experiment: How England Produced the First Superman

1927. Watts publishing house releases William Margrie's The Story of a Great Experiment. This novel was one of several at the beginning of the twentieth century, which explored popular eugenic themes. Though some were critical of eugenic projects, many of these texts promoted a eugenic utopia. The Story of a Great Experiment falls into this latter category (Stableford, 2006).

The Story of a Great Experiment took place in the near future of the early twentieth century. In this time, Margrie suggests that mankind needed eugenics in order to continue evolving. He also suggests that the primary role of women is to breed better men, in order to create a "superman". This goal brings the world closer to a utopia. At one point in the novel, the author says to his superman protagonist “you have given the world a new hope, a new inspiration, a new faith” (The Spectator, 1927, p.19), reinforcing the importance of eugenic messages.

Margrie's work was met with mixed reviews upon its release, and was described as “a diminutive novel” (The Spectator, 1927, p. 19). It remains an example of the prevalence of eugenic themes in literature and popular culture in the early twentieth century, and the potential benefits of a eugenic future.

-Sheila Gibbons and Colette Leung

  • Mr William Margrie has written a very odd book about superman… (1927, September 9). The Spectator, 19.

  • Stableford, B.M. (2006). Science Fact and Science Fiction: An Encyclopedia. New York: Routledge Taylor and Francis Group.