Lord of the World A Novel Robert Hugh Benson 9781365832161 Books
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1907 Dystopian Science Fiction, Alternate History "You must give me a moment," said the old man, leaning back. Percy resettled himself in his chair and waited, chin on hand. It was a very silent room in which the three men sat, furnished with the extreme common sense of the period. It had neither window nor door; for it was now sixty years since the world, recognising that space is not confined to the surface of the globe, had begun to burrow in earnest. Old Mr. Templeton's house stood some forty feet below the level of the Thames embankment, in what was considered a somewhat commodious position, for he had only a hundred yards to walk before he reached the station of the Second Central Motor-circle, and a quarter of a mile to the volor-station at Blackfriars. He was over ninety years old, however, and seldom left his house now. The room itself was lined throughout with the delicate green jade-enamel prescribed by the Board of Health, and was suffused with the artificial sunlight. . .
Lord of the World A Novel Robert Hugh Benson 9781365832161 Books
I became interested in reading Lord of the World after I read that it was an early dystopion novel that preceded Brave New World and 1984 and ,in some respects, resembled them. In that sense Benson's novel is a fascinating step in the development of a very popular genre.Like the novels that followed it, it portrays a world in which the promise of earthly perfection although popular becomes for one person at least an all-consuming state that is indifferent to individuals. In what begins as an attempt to form a sort of world government capable of overcoming the divisive nature of religion soon reveals itself as even more intolerant than the religions it replaces. It all begins with the arrival of a mysterious American about whom nothing is known but who is able to captivate large crowds to such a degree that the nations of the world make him the President of the World. It isn't long before the price of world peace becomes the abandonment of religious belief, the acceptance of euthanasia and the annihilation of those who oppose an all-powerful government.
As a caution, readers should know that the story is told from the point of view of a catholic priest loyal to his faith. As a result there are many descriptions and references to Catholic liturgy and belief. Any readers who find such things beyond their patience would be advised to stay away from this novel.
On an entirely different level, the novel written in 1907 anticipated the future perhaps more clearly than did 1984 or Brave New World. The growth of air travel, the introduction of nuclear weapons, massive legislation limiting all sorts of religious or cultural choices, the totally secular state, globalization, the redistribution of wealth, the end of the supernatural, and the elevation of man as a divine being with its cult-like promotion of an all-wise leader are all here. Perhaps most fascinating is the degree to which this god-like figure called Julian Felsenburgh echoes the whole "we are the one we've been waiting for" vibe associated with Obama's glorification in 2008. As added touches, the novel offers hero-priest figure Percy Franklin,who becomes the pope while being the secular god, Felsenburgh's almost exact double in appearance and an apocalyptic ending.
As flawed as it may appear in places, it is nonetheless a great read written by a long- forgotten writer of exceptionable imagination.
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Lord of the World A Novel Robert Hugh Benson 9781365832161 Books Reviews
The book is awesome. But this edition with the boat on the cover is just not the one you want, I didn't realize when I ordered it that it is a full 8 1/2x11" size; this is not the best format for reading a novel and it also has some problems of poor editing from an OCR text. There is a similarly priced edition that is a normal size.
I found this book a well-crafted, highly entertaining, thought provoking page turner. This was the most engaging thing I read in a long time. I already had bought it and had it sitting around, but finally got around to reading it after hearing Pope Francis promote it multiple times. The fact it's one of Pope Francis' favorite books makes it even more interesting to read. This is a super Catholic book, you will get the most out of it if you are familiar with the Traditional Latin Mass and for instance Latin Eucharistic hymns. If you are steeped in that then there is nothing difficult about this book. And if that is not as familiar to you, you will probably still make out what is happening though I could imagine the last couple pages to be difficult for a non Catholic to figure out. Like any futuristic book, a lot of the character of it is right from the time when it was written, so the juxtapositions involved in someone in 1907 describing the early 21st century can be pretty amusing. But what this book really explores is not what will happen to technology but much bigger questions, and Benson's vision about the nature and form of the showdown between the progressive anti-Christ "spirit of the world" and Christ is what makes this book compelling enough to be praised by more than one Pope. The basic gist of it simply rings true--he really puts his finger on something--and the only way to convey the idea this well is in a story--an essay or treatise is just not a substitute. The fascinating thing about Benson's scene of "the end of the world" is it is a scene so familiar to many devout and somewhat traditional-ish Catholics that you are right there in the scene. And if you still think after you read the book that Pope Francis is some kind of Communist plant, then you didn't actually read the book, because Pope Francis handily disabuses us of any such notion by recommending "The Lord of the World" as a favorite. Whatever Pope Francis is up to precisely, he understands that the battle lines are drawn, and Whose side he wants to be on.
This review is for Lord of the World
This is a beautiful story, written with subtlety that preserves dramatic tension with spiritual insight. I will leave it to others to sing its praises. I wish, rather, to praise the *presentation* of this particular copy (ISBN 1507790503). I have purchased three different copies of "Lord of the World." The first two looked like computer printouts with a tiny font and strange margins. *This* copy, however, is quite different. It looks, well, like a book. The typographical design makes the reading experience pleasurable; the cover is dramatic; and the binding quality is fine. Most helpful of all, the Latin phrases that so bedevil the non-Latin-reader are now accompanied by translations (in footnotes) so that -- especially in a scene wherein a Latin hymn plays a rather important part -- the reader loses nothing of the story, the drama, or the meaning. Highly recommended. (I should add that the same company also prints Benson's sequel, or alternative to Lord of the World -- The Dawn of All. See 1515075176 ISBN 1515075176).
I became interested in reading Lord of the World after I read that it was an early dystopion novel that preceded Brave New World and 1984 and ,in some respects, resembled them. In that sense Benson's novel is a fascinating step in the development of a very popular genre.
Like the novels that followed it, it portrays a world in which the promise of earthly perfection although popular becomes for one person at least an all-consuming state that is indifferent to individuals. In what begins as an attempt to form a sort of world government capable of overcoming the divisive nature of religion soon reveals itself as even more intolerant than the religions it replaces. It all begins with the arrival of a mysterious American about whom nothing is known but who is able to captivate large crowds to such a degree that the nations of the world make him the President of the World. It isn't long before the price of world peace becomes the abandonment of religious belief, the acceptance of euthanasia and the annihilation of those who oppose an all-powerful government.
As a caution, readers should know that the story is told from the point of view of a catholic priest loyal to his faith. As a result there are many descriptions and references to Catholic liturgy and belief. Any readers who find such things beyond their patience would be advised to stay away from this novel.
On an entirely different level, the novel written in 1907 anticipated the future perhaps more clearly than did 1984 or Brave New World. The growth of air travel, the introduction of nuclear weapons, massive legislation limiting all sorts of religious or cultural choices, the totally secular state, globalization, the redistribution of wealth, the end of the supernatural, and the elevation of man as a divine being with its cult-like promotion of an all-wise leader are all here. Perhaps most fascinating is the degree to which this god-like figure called Julian Felsenburgh echoes the whole "we are the one we've been waiting for" vibe associated with Obama's glorification in 2008. As added touches, the novel offers hero-priest figure Percy Franklin,who becomes the pope while being the secular god, Felsenburgh's almost exact double in appearance and an apocalyptic ending.
As flawed as it may appear in places, it is nonetheless a great read written by a long- forgotten writer of exceptionable imagination.
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