The Reign of the Saints, published in 1911, is the only novel by John Trevena that looks forward-some 200 to 300 years into the future. The author describes it as "an age of pleasure; but the battle of life had been made no easier by the triumph of liberty." Less a work of science fiction and more a radical political fable, the story depicts a bankrupt English government where the monarchy no longer exists and a unicameral Parliament is controlled by women. It is a time without war and no military for national defense, ...
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The Reign of the Saints, published in 1911, is the only novel by John Trevena that looks forward-some 200 to 300 years into the future. The author describes it as "an age of pleasure; but the battle of life had been made no easier by the triumph of liberty." Less a work of science fiction and more a radical political fable, the story depicts a bankrupt English government where the monarchy no longer exists and a unicameral Parliament is controlled by women. It is a time without war and no military for national defense, despite overtures from Japan about annexing England. Religion is an obsolete belief structure and the people lead unfulfilled lives. There is great political unrest among the various factions of the British society: the Artisans are trade unionists from towns; the Labourers are independent, country folk; the Players are a small group of idolized sports figures; and the former aristocracy, known as the Blues, are vilified. The vast majority of the people are Hedonists, lazy pleasure seekers of the cities, whose lives are controlled by the Prime Minister, John Code, and his unscrupulous mother, Ann, who is the Bishop of Exeter. They are both Italians who, while keeping the opposition in check through spies and other corrupt means, promise to feed the English people and, similar to the Roman Empire, sponsor sporting events at an Amphitheatre in London to the cheers of the masses. Dissatisfied with the status quo, the Blues go on the offensive. Their leader is middle-aged Robert Courtenay, the Earl of Devon. He and his young son, Hugh, bravely seek to change the political problems facing the country. Hugh falls in love with Mary Cruwys, the daughter of the Vicar of Sourton. Their relationship is pitted against their duty to family and country. Their romance is tested when the Blues are rounded up and imprisoned. Who will survive the brutal reign of the Codes? Will a small band of revolutionaries be able to defeat the tyranny of the establishment? Will England be handed over to the Japanese government? This edition of The Reign of the Saints includes detailed notes relating to the many historical, literary, Biblical and geographic references in the book.
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