After London by Richard Jefferies

Description

After London, also known as After London; Or, Wild England, by Richard Jefferies, is a post-apocalyptic novel published in 1885. The story envisions a world where civilization has mysteriously collapsed, leaving nature to reclaim much of England. Society has reverted to a medieval state, with people scattered into small feudal communities amidst vast wildernesses and overgrown ruins. The novel follows Felix Aquila, a young nobleman, who dreams of adventure and seeks to prove himself beyond his isolated life. He embarks on a journey through the untamed lands, facing wild animals, remnants of advanced technology, and new, brutal forms of government and social hierarchy. The first part, 'The Relapse into Barbarism,' explores how England transformed after the collapse, while the second part, 'Wild England,' follows Felix’s journey. Jefferies' work combines adventure with a richly detailed vision of nature’s dominance, emphasizing the transience of human civilization and the power of the natural world. Although the society that Jefferies depicts after the fall of London is an unpleasant one, it still served as an inspiration for William Morris's utopian News from Nowhere. In a letter of 1885, he writes of his reaction to After London: 'absurd hopes curled around my heart as I read it.' After London also influenced M.P. Shiel's post-apocalyptic novel, The Purple Cloud.

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