To Whom This May Come 1898

"To Whom This May Come" by Edward Bellamy is a story about what happens when a sailor, who survives a terrible shipwreck, stumbles upon a hidden island society where everyone communicates through mind-reading. Lost for words, literally, the islanders evolved beyond spoken language to gain a deep understanding of each other, building a world of intense empathy and connection. As the sailor adapts to this silent community it is revealed that they were once outcasts who were hunted for their unique talent to share thoughts. The sailor finds love within this new culture but ends up facing a painful departure caused by unexpected events, forcing the reader to think about how we connect and communicate in a spoken society.