Lord of the World (ePub)

Robert Hugh Benson (1871-1914) was an English Anglican priest who converted to Roman Catholicism in 1903, subsequently becoming ordained as a Catholic priest. He was a prolific writer, known particularly for his works of fiction, including his dystopian novel 'Lord of the World' (1907). Benson hailed from a notably ecclesiastical family; he was the youngest son of Edward White Benson, the Archbishop of Canterbury, which made his conversion a matter of public controversy at the time. His literary style often fused his deep religious convictions with his imaginative storytelling, allowing him to explore complex themes of spirituality and morality. 'Lord of the World' is one of Benson's best-known works and is considered a prophetic narrative, detailing a futuristic world where secular humanism has triumphed and religion is on the brink of extinction. It is often mentioned alongside other dystopian classics like Aldous Huxley's 'Brave New World' and George Orwell's '1984', although it precedes them both. In addition to fiction, Benson was also a respected writer of devotional and theological texts, reflecting his commitment to his faith and his literary talent. Despite his early death at the age of 42, Benson's contributions to religious literature and early 20th-century fiction remain influential.