008 - The Cave-Dwellers

A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder is the most acclaimed work of James De Mille, first serialized posthumously in Harpers Weekly and later published in book form by Harper and Brothers in 1888. This satirical romance follows the adventures of Adam More, a British sailor who, after being shipwrecked in Antarctica, discovers a tropical lost world teeming with prehistoric creatures, exotic plants, and a bizarre cult of death-worshipping primitives. Here, he encounters a highly evolved human society that has completely inverted the values of Victorian culture wealth is despised while poverty is celebrated, and death is cherished over life. In this strange land, the government imposes a peculiar form of reverse taxation, punishing its citizens by forcing them to accumulate wealth. Interwoven with this central narrative is the tale of four yachtsmen who stumble upon the manuscript, adding an intriguing frame to Mores extraordinary journey. (Condensed from Wikipedia)