
In an imagined 1913 America, the balance of power has dramatically shifted. Women, organized under a secretive Central Federation, have seized political and social control, leaving men to confront an unprecedented crisis of identity and purpose. The narrative opens amid a bleak census of declining marriages and shuttered social scenes, setting a stark yet oddly comic backdrop.
The story follows a bewildered male journalist, Augustus Melnor, whose concern for his own appearance masks a deeper unease as he watches the world tilt on its axis. Through witty dialogue and sly illustrations, he navigates meetings with fierce suffragettes, covert experiments, and a society that seems to have rewritten the rules of romance and duty. His observations blend satire with genuine curiosity about what it means to be masculine in a world turned upside‑down.
Written with a blend of early‑twentieth‑century prose and playful verse, the work offers both humor and a pointed critique of gender politics. Listeners will enjoy its lively characters, clever turn‑of‑phrase, and the way it mirrors contemporary debates through a historic lens.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (264K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Suzanne Lybarger and the booksmiths at http://www.eBookForge.net
Release date
2009-03-04
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1865–1933
Best known for the eerie cult classic The King in Yellow, this American writer moved easily between horror, historical fiction, romance, and adventure. Before becoming a prolific novelist, he trained as an artist in New York and Paris.
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