TESCAPE TALKS

When William Le Queux published his book in 1894, he wasn't just writing a novel; he was weaponising the anxieties of a nation.One of the most significant books in the genre of Invasion Literature, The Great War in England in 1897, describes in vivid detail the invasion of Britain by a Franco-Russian force, the work of spies in precipitating the action and how Britain defended itself against its foes with the help of the Empire and other alliances. Le Queux genuinely believed Britain was unprepared and he used his fiction as a cudgel to wake the public up, often collaborating with military figures like Field Marshal Lord Roberts to ensure his fictional invasions felt tactically plausible. In the wider context of his work it stands as the definitive starting point of his "Invasion" phase. It showcases his signature style: a blend of meticulous military detail, breathless prose, and a staunch, unapologetic patriotism.The book caused a sensation when published, arguably to the extent of influencing government policy, military thinking and without doubt effectively predicting the horrors of industrial-scale conflicts that would become a reality for Britain less than 20 years later with the outbreak of World War I.In a world of shifting alliances and power politics, the book is as relevant today as it was in the late 19th Century.