The Socialist centers around the Duke of Paddington, a young man born into immense wealth and privilege, who begins to confront the stark divisions between the social classes. His life of luxury at Oxford is disrupted when he becomes entangled in the political and social tensions of the time, particularly through his interactions with those who live outside his sphere of influence. As he forms relationships with his valet and an influential socialist figure, the narrative explores the impact of class divisions and the growing unrest among the working class. The duke's detachment from the struggles of the lower classes begins to unravel when his valet, inspired by the ideals of socialism, challenges the duke's worldview, leading to a departure that signifies a break from the old ways. This encounter sets the stage for an examination of social responsibility, the clash between the privileged elite and the oppressed, and the transformative potential of activism. The novel delves into the complexities of societal change and the personal awakenings that challenge long-held beliefs about power and inequality.
Guy Thorne was the pen name of Cyril Arthur Edward Ranger Gull, who was an English writer and author who lived from 1875 to 1923 and wrote many books. His most famous work is When It Was Dark: The Story of a Great Conspiracy (1903). He wrote as Leonard Cresswell Ingleby and C. Ranger Gull as well. Thorne went to Denstone College, Manchester Grammar, and Oxford University, but he didn't finish his education there. From 1897 to 1898, he worked as a writer for the Saturday Review. He also wrote for The Bookman and The Academy. In 1899, he was editor of London Life. After that, he worked for the Daily Mail and then the Daily Express. He also wrote for Society, a news magazine. His first book, The Hypocrite: A Novel of Oxford and London Life, came out in 1898 under an assumed name. Starting in 1900, he wrote fiction, and over the next few decades, he wrote about 125 books. When It Was Dark was the most well-known and sold 500,000 copies. The book tells the story of Constantine Schaube, a traitorous Jew who tried to take down all of Christianity by falsely denying the Resurrection.