The Invasion of 1910, with a full account of the siege of London

"The Invasion of 1910" by William Le Queux is a historical fiction novel written in the early 20th century. The book presents a speculative account of a fictional invasion of England by Germany, illustrating the potential consequences of the British military's unpreparedness for war. Central to the narrative are sub-editors Fergusson and Baines, who become embroiled in the unfolding chaos as they uncover the details of an unprecedented military attack. The opening of the novel sets the stage for the impending crisis, beginning with two sub-editors walking through London on a quiet Sunday morning, only to discover that communication lines to the east coast have been mysteriously severed. When they investigate further, they learn of a German invasion taking place in real-time, with enemy forces already landing in Lowestoft and wreaking havoc on the unsuspecting populace. The tension escalates as Londoners remain blissfully unaware of the invasion, leading to panic and confusion upon the eventual revelation of the terrifying news. The first chapters deftly depict the initial denial and growing chaos, foreshadowing the dire circumstances Britain will face as the invasion unfolds. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

William Tufnell Le Queux was an Anglo-French journalist and writer. He was also a diplomat, a traveller, a flying buff who officiated at the first British air meeting at Doncaster in 1909, and a wireless pioneer who broadcast music from his own station long before radio was generally available; his claims regarding his own abilities and exploits, however, were usually exaggerated. His best-known works are the anti-French and anti-Russian invasion fantasy The Great War in England in 1897 (1894) and the anti-German invasion fantasy The Invasion of 1910 (1906), the latter becoming a bestseller.