Lord of the World

In a meticulously designed subterranean chamber beneath the Thames, three men gather around a bronze‑pedestal fire, their surroundings a blend of early‑20th‑century invention and austere comfort. The eldest, a nonagenarian who has spent a lifetime in this insulated room, begins a measured monologue about the recent upheavals that have reshaped England’s political landscape. His narrative draws a stark picture of a society that has already abandoned traditional patriotism and embraced a new, materialist ideology.

Seated opposite him is Father Percy Franklin, a striking priest whose stark white hair and keen gray eyes betray a fierce intellect, while his colleague Father Francis offers a softer, more melancholic counterpoint. Their conversation drifts from the rise of a radical labour movement to the unsettling spread of secular doctrines across Europe, hinting at a world where religious authority is increasingly challenged. The prologue sets a tone of quiet tension, inviting listeners to explore how faith, power, and humanity might clash in an uncertain future.