The Great War in England in 1897

"The Great War in England in 1897" by William Le Queux is a fictional narrative penned during the late 19th century. The story explores the harrowing prospect of an invasion of Britain by foreign powers, particularly focusing on the fears surrounding military inadequacies and the rising threat posed by a combined French and Russian offensive. With the unfolding chapters, readers can expect to dive into a tale of national crisis, as the British public grapples with the sudden declaration of war and the chaos that ensues. The opening of the narrative sets a dramatic tone as it captures the shock of the British public at the announcement of war during a theater performance. The news spreads rapidly, plunging the once-comfortable citizens into panic and disbelief at the thought of invasion—something they previously deemed preposterous. Alongside the societal turmoil, we are introduced to Geoffrey Engleheart, a young man caught in the whirlwind of impending conflict, who rushes to inform his fiancée of the danger. As the story progresses, various themes of patriotism, cowardice, and social unrest start to emerge, illustrating how quickly confidence can falter in the face of looming threats. (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.