Fawcett, E. Douglas

Hartmann the Anarchist or The Doom of the Great City is a science fiction novel by Edward Douglas Fawcett first published in 1893.[1] It remained out of print for over 100 years and has only recently been re-published.

The plot centers around Mr Stanley, a young moneyed gentleman who aims to stand for election as part of the Labour party in the early 20th century. Through his associations with many of London's most prominent socialists and anarchists, he encounters and befriends Rudolph Hartmann and 'goes along' with Hartmann's plan to attack London using his airship The Attila. Much of London is destroyed by fire and shells in the beginning of their plans to replace civilization with anarchism:

But how is the new order to take shape? How educe system from chaos?

We want no more 'systems,' or 'constitutions' -- we shall have anarchy. Men will effect by voluntary association, and abjure the foulness of the modern wag Expand