Lord of the World

By: Robert Hugh Benson

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 10 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Secular humanism has triumphed. Everything the late Victorians and Edwardians believed would bring human happiness has been achieved: Technology has made it so no one needs to work for a living, the social sciences ensure a smooth-running social order, and, in the name of tolerance, religious beliefs have been uprooted and eliminated except for a single holdout - a largely discredited and rapidly shrinking Catholic Church. Yet people are unhappy.

What has been created is a sterile world of crass materialism, a world without spiritual dimension, a world where people daily choose legalized euthanasia over the emptiness of existence. Out of this culture of despair, there arises a charismatic leader: Julian Felsenburgh. Soon the masses are in Felsenburgh's thrall, and he becomes leader of the world. But in their eagerness for change, have the citizens of the world embraced the Antichrist and hastened the end of days?

Father Percy Franklin remains a bastion of stability, even as the Catholic Church disintegrates around him. Finally outlawed and driven underground, it is only this small and shrinking church that stands against the "Lord of the World".

Public Domain (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

A legendary work.

between the descriptions of prayer to the overall laying out of the situation of the end times, Robert Hugh Benson has etched into my mind moments is that are overwhelming and utterly memorable with this book.

Not A Religious Foretelling

This work is a product of its times and its writer. It contains concepts and moral lessons and cautions, to be sure, and can be enjoyed as a piece of distopian science fiction, but nothing more.

It is written in the classic literary style of the early 20th Century. At times, it waxes philosophical on subjects not readily known to non- catholics which tends to bog down the story.

There are many references to pre-Vatican II Catholic practices and prayers which seem more to showcase these than to reflect much on the story.

Despite the title, the story primarily theorizes how the Catholic Church might survive an adverse rise in socialism in politics and an atheistic culture, two noted concerns in the wake of the First World War. This is more the "antichrist" than Felsenburge, the human "antichrist". If anything, "The Lord of the World" could be either the "antichrist" or God. There was much more Benson could have done with this element, but he was a clergyman long before he was a novelist. Still, I give him credit as the story would make an excellent film. As a novel, it gets deep into weeds of religion and gets boring.

This novel will readily appeal to devotees of traditionalism as the hero is an early 20th Century priest, but I caution that this is not a prophetical book and should not be taken literally regarding world events.

Christians please read

Remarkably relevant for today. Paints a pretty grim picture of a world without faith in God but complete faith in man.

Worth a listen

If for no other reason then because of the fact one doesn’t find many works of Catholic fiction. Good story, although it does get fairly dry for certain stretches. Overall story is good, however.

Beautifully read; much to consider

I listened to this novel upon papal recommendation. Fascinating, the predictions of both future world and technology, and future Church, from an early 20th century perspective. Science, science fiction, and faith. A great combo.

the future is now

this is almost creepy in its depiction of the end time. great book through and through. keep praying and watching

worth a look

surprisingly prescient for being written in 1907. the reader's voice, however, was a bit irritating

Prophetic for our times

How did Benson have such insight - this man was, sadly, a prophet for our times. Amazing and compelling listening.

Amazing and scary

amazing view of the coming end. Could this be the 21st century? Will it be soon?

Wonderful

Though some of the depth this book would be lost on anyone who is not Catholic, it stands as one of the great apocalyptic novels of the twentieth century. The performance was excellent with captivating passion that assists the listener in immersing himself in the story. A great read for all and a must read for all Catholics.