"Lord of the World" (1907) by Robert Hugh Benson is a pioneering dystopian novel set in the early 21st century, where secular humanism has replaced all religions worldwide. The story follows Father Percy Franklin, an English Catholic priest, as he witnesses the meteoric rise of Julian Felsenburgh, a charismatic American senator who unites humanity under one government and is hailed as a messiah. As Christianity faces annihilation, Franklin becomes Pope, leading the faith's final spiritual resistance. The novel culminates in apocalyptic confrontation and divine intervention. A chilling precursor to Orwell and Huxley, Benson's masterpiece explores faith, evil, and the end times.
