Anthropometamorphosis was Bulwer’s final and most popular work, reprinted at least three times in his lifetime. A third edition “printed for the use and benefit of Thomas Gibbs, gent” was a reissue of the second edition retitled “A view of the People of the whole World”.

The title literally means “humanity-changing”. It could be seen as another work influenced by Francis Bacon, an Anomatia Comparata, a comparison of all the peoples of the world.

It is one of the first studies in comparative cultural anthropology albeit with a strong tone of social commentary, “Almost every Nation having a particular whimzey as touching corporall fashions of their own invention”.

Bulwer describes how people modify their bodies and clothes but later commentators have interpreted this ostensible apolitical work as a coded piece of political theory.

Images of woodcuts from 1653 by John Bulwer.
Quoted text via Wikipedia.