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Irrefutably, British authors have massively contributed in the popularity of dystopian novels in the literary world. Aldous Huxley, H.G. Wells, and George Orwell are the brilliant minds of some of the most remarkable, classic British dystopian books of all time. The following book collection portrays the UK as a frightening, destitute, or war-torn nation. Hopefully, what happens to the characters in these works of fiction will remain between the book covers.
The Time Machine, H.G. Wells (1895)
The protagonist is an English inventor who managed to build a machine capable of transporting him through time. He travels to 802,701, where humanity has evolved into two distinct humanoid races. The first, the Eloi, are delicate and small, and spend most of their time playing or eating. The second, the Morlocks, live beneath the surface of the earth, where they produce all the things the Eloi need to live. Still, The Time Machine isn’t light entertainment. H.G. Wells handily questions a core belief of his day – the idea that scientific and technological progress would, inevitably, lead to a better tomorrow. The novel’s pessimistic speculation about the ways humanity may evolve interrogates 19th century Victorian society, particularly the exploitation of the working-classes and the problem of class division in an unchecked, capitalistic environment.
Brave New World, Aldous Huxley (1932)
The story takes place in futuristic London, where science reigns and humans are conditioned into particular class systems from birth. In Brave New World's World State, humans belong to one of five castes: Alphas, Betas, Gammas, Deltas, or Epsilons. Alphas are the most intelligent and given the best jobs, while the lower castes are stunted both physically and mentally during development. Emotions and individuality are conditioned out of children at a young age, and there are no lasting relationships because “everyone belongs to everyone else”. A tranquilizing drug called “soma” makes almost every citizen content with his or her life. The book follows a few main characters differing in class but struggling with similar existential questions. Aldous Huxley wrote “Brave New World” as he witnessed the rise of Nazism, and the books criticizes the contemporary belief in technology as a futuristic remedy for problems caused by disease and war.
1984, George Orwell (1948)
Published as a warning against totalitarianism, the book is set in 1984 in Oceania, one of three perpetually warring totalitarian states (the other two are Eurasia and Eastasia). Oceania is governed by the all-controlling Party, which has brainwashed the population into unthinking obedience to its leader, Big Brother. The Party has created a propagandistic language known as Newspeak, which is designed to limit free thought and promote the Party’s doctrines. The book’s hero, Winston Smith, is a functionary living in a London that is still shattered by a nuclear war. His job is to rewrite history in the Ministry of Truth, bringing it in line with current political thinking. However, Winston’s longing for truth and decency leads him to secretly rebel against the government, which makes him a “thought-criminal” and inescapably leads him to his downfall.
V for Vendetta, Alan Moore (1982-85)
V for Vendetta is a British graphic novel written by Alan Moore and illustrated by David Lloyd, initially published between 1982 and 1985 as an ongoing serial. The story takes place in England, in 1997, in a world changed by war, famine and disease. In response to these changes, the government has morphed from a democracy into a fascist dictatorship that uses extensive means to keep the population in line. V, a shadowy figure wearing a mask at all times and speaking in riddles and literary quotes, is ready to stand up to the government and stir the populace to take back their liberties. Alan Moore described his book as being “about fascism, about anarchy, about England”. The 2005 film adaptation of the novel popularized the Guy Fawkes mask as a symbol of rebellion against oppression; most famously, the internet-based activist group Anonymous have adopted it as their group symbol.
