In Cartographie du feminin dans l' utopie ( A Cartography of the Feminine in Utopia), Cohen Safir provides her reader with
a series of examples of utopias throughout the world. The book's emphasis is the feminine, for as the author argues, although our modern
societies are founded on the philosophies of Plato More or Bacon, it is difficcult to imagine how their ideal societies could be perfect for women. Perhaps this is precisely what is at stake here. For if our thoughts and behaviours are based on a mysogynist viewpoint, it is no surprise we should still be living in a world of separation and oppression. And if the Western world has made much progress ( as attested by the utopian
communities studies here) it might be a warning not to export all of our models. The book then is of great help for those who wish to look at classical utopias with a fresh perspective and to discover what women have added to the genre. From Christine de Pisan to the Shakers and to contempoorary American both hetero and homo sexual communities, Cartographie du feminin dans l' utopie analyzes the link between the emergence of a feminist movement and the innovative actions taken by utopians in Europe as well as in America. True, the ambition is wide in scope and we sometimes get lost from jumping over the centuries but the Safir's vision of utopia as a constant process and stimulus for change would lead her readers to...dream on.