Great Revolution and Utopia

Author: Zhang Suihua, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-09-01
Features: "Messenger" Essence Series is a collection of books that combines cultural sophistication with readability, covering various aspects of human life. It truly reflects the beliefs of the "Messenger" magazine in seeking objective truth, fostering free exchange of ideas, and promoting cultural dissemination. The rich knowledge, sound concepts, and innovative thinking contained in these books will undoubtedly inspire readers. The series is divided into 12 volumes based on different themes or fields, including "World" (Conversations with World), "，" (Deities, Totems, and Beliefs), "" (Changes in the Media), "" (Urban Labyrinth), "" (A Century of Cinema), "" (Isolated Journeys), "" (The Star Cluster of Humanity), "" (The Path to Freedom), "" (The Great Revolution and Utopia), "" (The Family Then and Now), "、" (Stone, Culture, and Time), and "" (The Light of Art).
The contributors to this magazine are "world-class" experts and scholars in their respective fields, ensuring authoritative content. Despite being written by renowned authors, the works are accessible, engaging, and free of academic jargon, making them both thought-provoking and captivating. Moreover, the same themes are often written by authors from different countries and cultures, providing readers with diverse perspectives. For example, different cultures and societies hold varying attitudes toward the family, distinct views on art, especially modern art, differing opinions on the French Revolution and human utopian ideals, varied understandings of media functions, and contrasting views on the relationship between "sovereignty" and "human rights," as well as differing perspectives on "urbanization." These highlights showcase the cultural diversity and intellectual pluralism that the "Messenger" magazine uniquely embodies, surpassing any other publication.
Founded by UNESCO, the "Messenger" magazine has a 54-year history and is published in 28 languages, distributed in over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Its mission is to promote international cooperation in education, science, and culture among nations, as well as to foster world peace, security, freedom, and progress. The Chinese edition of the "Messenger" magazine was launched in July 1980, translated and published in Beijing by China Foreign Translation and Publishing Company under the commission of UNESCO. As a major international publication, the "Messenger" magazine faithfully upholds UNESCO's mission, seeking objective truth and the free exchange of ideas and knowledge, while committed to the broad dissemination of culture. It serves as an effective platform for advocacy and education to promote justice, freedom, and peace among readers.
The "Messenger" magazine extensively covers various issues in human society, spanning numerous scientific disciplines. With rich knowledge, sound concepts, and innovative thinking, it aims to deepen readers' understanding of humanity itself and foster mutual understanding among people. Given the importance, seriousness, knowledgeability, and readability of the "Messenger" magazine, we have now selected the essence of its Chinese edition's translations from the past 21 years and presented them in this series for a wider audience. The series is divided into 12 volumes based on major themes or different fields, meticulously reselected to faithfully reproduce the spirit of the "Messenger."
Over the past 21 years, the translators who have contributed to the Chinese edition of the "Messenger" have devoted significant effort, and we sincerely express our gratitude to them. Due to financial difficulties, UNESCO has decided to cease publication of the "Messenger" since 2002, and the Chinese edition has accordingly been discontinued. This series is a tribute and summary of the Chinese edition of the "Messenger," and we hope it is not the final chapter. May the "messenger" of human peace and freedom always be with us!