Lord of the World

This book is pretty amazing. It was originally written in 1907 but is so appropriate today. I first wanted to read this book when I heard that Pope Francis recommended it. I am so glad I read this one.

This book takes place in a dystopian present (it was the future in 1907 though!). The world looks different than it does now simply because Robert Hugh Benson had no idea where technology would go. The telegraph is still a pretty important part of information transfer in this book.

Percy Franklin is a Catholic priest in a world where humanism is the guiding belief. Those who are religious in any way are persecuted for their faith. Euthanasia is readily available and commonplace in this world. Everything is secularized and man is the epitome of evolution.

Father Franklin is working as hard as he can to save souls and keep the world from devouring his religion. The battle he is fighting seems to be a losing battle when Julie Felsenburgh, a mysterious American, manages to broker world peace.

Felsenburgh is anti-anything-resembling-true-faith. Instead, Felsenburgh is a leader of secular humanism. After world peace is established, he is hailed as the savior of the world and the expression of the divine human.

All of this is directly opposed to the Catholic Church, the only Christian denomination left in existence. The humanistic society is reframing all religious thought around Felsenburgh while the Church can do little to combat it.

Father Percy Franklin is thrown into this mix with his brilliant mind and his uncanny resemblance to Julian Felsenburgh. Something is going to happen and these two men are likely to head the opposing sides.

This novel is so apropos for today’s world where being a Catholic is such a hard thing. It is amazing to think that this book was written in 1907 when it is so appropriate to today’s world.

I loved this book much more than I thought I would and even though the ending was horribly abrupt, I have no idea how else it could have ended. This is a great book and I am so thankful that Pope Francis recommended it which then made me aware of it.

Lord of the World By Robert Hugh Benson Published by Ave Maria Press, Feb 26th 2016

This is a re-publication of a book which was originally written in 1907 and it is set in a dystopian future, close to our own chronological time. Christianity has all but been abandoned in favour of a secular humanism which embraces euthanasia as a kindness to those suffering from severe injuries, mental or physical illness, or for those who simply wish to end their existence. Religious faith is barely tolerated and most Protestant denominations in England have gone the way of the established church and adopted humanism as the guiding star of belief and praxis. Only the Roman Catholic Church has held steadfast, although people and priests are leaving even that church in droves as faith becomes less and less socially acceptable amongst all classes of society.

The story was a little slow to start, but I quickly found that I simply had to keep reading. The age of the book is shown in its mention of the use of asbestos in construction and the use of airships (volors) for rapid transcontinental transportation, for instance. This did not detract from the story and the book generally has a remarkably contemporary feel, with the loss of sovereignty of nation states in favour of a European, then world, confederation of states, which ultimately becomes the fiefdom of the mysterious yet all-powerful and mesmerising Julian Felsenburgh,

Everyone dreams of world peace and when Felsenburgh promises he can actually deliver this, he is hailed as a hero, the Saviour of the world, and the world rushes to pledge allegiance to him and his ideas, with horrifying results. Soon, he becomes one before whom all must bow, pledge allegiance and even worship, or face severe punishment.

One British priest, Fr Percy Franklin has held firm to his Christian beliefs, despite all the difficulties, dangers and trials which beset him, and it falls to him to be eventually elected Pope and to keep the tiny remnant of faithful Christians worldwide trusting in God as the world edges ever closer to the Apocalypse.....

Remarkably prescient and almost prophetic, I found it well worth reading. In this edition, there is an introduction by Mark Bosco, S.J. and a particularly interesting "Theological Reflection" by Michael Murphy. The story behind the author's conversion from Anglicanism to Roman Catholicism and why he wrote this book is covered by Martyn Sampson, so there is plenty of food for thought in these chapters as well as in the "Lord of the World" itself.

An extraordinary and somewhat prophetic insight into the future behaviour of mankind.

Oliver Brand is the new appointed member for Croydon. He is married to Mabel. Oliver is of the new generation who believes in the New Order. His mother who lives with them, was brought up as a Christian, something that is now forbidden and looked down upon as nothing but superstition. He feels that the future is more exciting as the Master, Felsenburgh, (known as the Son of Heaven) comes to take power of the entire world. All religions have fallen (or been banned) and now mankind believes that they are themselves the creators of all. Euthanasia, is readily available and is used for ridding the world of both young and old.

Father Percy Franklin has managed to keep some form of Catholicism going. He writes regular reports to the Pope on the happenings under the new regime and is eventually summoned to Rome to work alongside the Pope. He and Felsenburgh could almost be twins, but they couldn’t be more different.

I found that I needed to read this book with no distractions simply because there are so many facts and philosophies to acknowledge and puzzle over. I found it particularly hard to come to terms with what the book predicts, because in so many instances, the wheels of life as we live it now, are turning into what was predicted by Robert Hugh Benson in 1907 (when this book was first published). I know that this book is going to continue to profoundly affect the way my thoughts continue to churn over the problems of the world as we know it and the changes that seem so inevitable in how mankind evolves.

I must thank the publishers, Ave Maria Press, for re-publishing this extraordinary work which must rank among the top of dystopian fiction written. This book proceeded Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World (1932) and George Orwell’s 1984 (1949). I would love to use this review to encourage other readers to read these works and possibly add Children of Men by PD James (2010) to the list. My reason for wishing that more people would take the time to read these books, which are not easy reading, is simply so that we can realise and can continue fighting for fair and equal justice for all and peace to practice the religion of our choice.

Treebeard

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of this book to review.

‘'Ministers of euthanasia’ arrive on the scene quickly after a volor (high-speed plane) crash and there are Euthanasia centers for the disabled and anguished. Catholicism is regarded as the enemy and many of the faithful have gone to Rome, the last holdout. The others keep a low profile. England eagerly awaits the coming of Julian Felsenburgh, the new President of Europe who hAs united East and West. There are no wars in this Communist secular ‘utopia’.welcome to the dystopia world imagined by Robert Hugh Benson.

Oliver Brand is an official in the secular, ‘humanitarian’ government and determined to get rid of ‘ superstition and ignorance’,’ and his beautiful wife Mabel is heavily influenced by his views. Although Oliver is supposed to be enlightened, he really has a condescending attitude to Mabel who, he thinks, is inclined to be emotional because she is a woman. Imagine their horror when they find out that Mabel’s mother wants to see a priest and return to her religion! This priest, Fr Percy Franklin, is a calm and strong leader, who doesn’t fear Felsenburgh.

In this new world, the government decides that people actually need ceremonies to replace the old ones and makes attendance compulsory. Now the Abbey is used for the veneration of Maternity, Life, Sustenance and Paternity. These ceremonies remind one of some of the New Agey celebrations and, indeed, the new types of church services which are popular today.

‘

Eventually, the battle between these two opposing views, will lead to a huge disaster…

This creepy, remarkably prescient novel by a Catholic convert with its similarities to today’s West with its desire to relegate Christianity
to the sidelines and its tendency to regard man as the enemy, but also worship mankind, had a big influence on the new Pope who has criticized ‘ideological colonisation’. This has created a big interest in the novel.

It is certainly a memorable book but rather wordy. I especially liked Benson’s explanation of Catholic belief.

I received this free ebook from Net Galley in return for an honest review.