H.G.Wells should need no introduction, being one of the
originators of science fiction in its current form (following-on from the
pioneering Jules Verne). His most famous SF works include The Time Machine, The War of
the Worlds, The Invisible Man, and
The First Men in the Moon. He also
wrote a range of other fiction, including future predictions (The War in the Air – in 1908) and,
particularly later in life, social
commentaries; The History of Mr Polly
being probably the best-known example. Some of his works combined elements of
both: The Shape of Things to Come
and Men Like Gods, for example.
Wells was a prolific writer and on checking his bibliography
I didn't recognise most of the titles. This used to apply to The Autocracy of Mr Parham, one of his
later works as it was first published in 1930, but something or someone must
have prompted me to buy it since it appeared in my reading pile not that long
ago. This is a strange book which it is difficult to categorise. It appears to
be a relatively straightforward social commentary before veering off in an
entirely different and fantastical direction less than half-way through the
book, with the finale involving a further twist.
Mr Parham is a university academic of the traditional,
classical sort, very much a snob and unhappy with many of the social trends of
the time. Sir Bussy Woodcock is a self-made millionaire of sharp intelligence
and great energy but lowly beginnings and no cultural education. This unlikely
pair meet by chance and form an intermittent relationship, the businessman keen
to learn something of culture and to understand the academic viewpoint, Mr
Parham hoping to obtain funding to set up his favourite dream; a periodical of
high quality (edited by himself, naturally) which would focus on influencing
the great affairs of the state and society in general. There is much drily
humorous observation in this part of the book, as these contrasting and
fundamentally incompatible characters struggle to cope with each other.
Their relationship reaches a turning point when Sir Bussy
becomes interested in the supernatural in general and séances in particular. Mr
Parham doesn't believe in such nonsense but goes along with it and attends
several such events. Then something happens – I can't say more without a major
spoiler, so if you want to find out for yourself, stop reading here.
******************
Their final séance is spectacularly successful as a Master
Spirit is summoned, apparently from Mars, and takes over Mr Parham's body with
the intention of showing humanity the errors of their ways and creating a new
world order. The priorities of the Master Spirit, who subsequently styles
himself the Lord Paramount, are remarkably similar to the views of Mr Parham,
but in place of the academic's diffidence is a master demagogue, capable of
swaying any crowd with his eloquence and persuading them to follow him. Except
for Sir Bussy, who appears singularly unimpressed and reluctant to get
involved. The Lord Paramount soon seizes power in England with a bloodless
coup, and cultivates like-minded leaders of other countries, including
Mussolini and a Dictator of Germany (not called Hitler – Wells wasn't that prescient!) before running into
problems with the USA. Other difficulties occur and the Lord Paramount –
increasingly reverting to Mr Parham – finds events gradually sliding out of his
control towards catastrophe.
This is an intriguing tale which Wells uses to explore
opposing social and political views of the period, with the fantasy element a
vehicle for so doing. On the way, he creates a couple of memorable characters.
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