The Napoleon of Notting Hillis a novel written byG. K. Chestertonin 1904, set in a nearly unchanged London in 1984.
 cover ofThe Napoleon of Notting Hill | |
| Author | G. K. Chesterton |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Speculative fiction,political satire |
| Publisher | Bodley Head (first edition) |
Publication date | 1904 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 300 pp |
| ISBN | 0-486-26551-X(recent edition) |
| OCLC | 22346022 |
| 823/.912 20 | |
| LC Class | PR4453.C4 N3 1991 |
Although the novel is set in the future, it is, in effect, set in analternative realityof Chesterton's own period, with no advances in technology nor changes in the class system or attitudes of the time. It postulates an impersonal government, not described in any detail, but apparently content to operate through a figurehead king, who is randomly chosen.
Synopsis
editThe dreary succession of randomly selectedKings of Englandis broken up when Auberon Quin, who cares for nothing but a good joke, is chosen. To amuse himself, he institutes elaborate costumes for the provosts of the districts of London. All are bored by the King's antics except for one earnest young man who takes the cry for regional pride seriously – Adam Wayne, the eponymousNapoleonofNotting Hill.
Influence
editMichael Collins,who led the fight for Ireland's secession from theUnited Kingdom,is known to have admired the book.[1]There has been speculation that the setting of the book prompted the date chosen for the setting ofGeorge Orwell'sNineteen Eighty-Four;[2]the Japanese translation of the book, the cover of which was illustrated byHayao Miyazaki,bore the primary titleChesterton's 1984.The novel is also quoted at the start ofNeil Gaiman's novelNeverwhere.
Both this novel and Chesterton'sThe Man Who Was Thursdayare referenced in the 2000 video gameDeus Ex.
Notes
edit- ^Ahlquist, Dale (13 April 2022) [26 February 2014-02-26]."Who Is This Guy and Why Haven't I Heard of Him?".Discover Chesterton.
This was the man who wrote a novel calledThe Napoleon of Notting Hill,which inspired Michael Collins to lead a movement for Irish Independence.
- ^McCrum, Robert (10 May 2009)."The Masterpiece That Killed George Orwell".The Observer.London.Retrieved24 May2009.
References
edit- Bleiler, Everett(1948).The Checklist of Fantastic Literature.Chicago: Shasta Publishers. p.77.
External links
edit
- The Napoleon of Notting HillatProject Gutenberg(with illustrations by W. Graham Robertson)
The Napoleon of Notting Hillpublic domain audiobook atLibriVox- Dale Ahlquist:"Napoleon at Notting Hill",Lecture 6 of the "Chesterton 101" of the American Chesterton Society