J.D. Beresford (1873-1947) was an English dramatist, journalist, and author. His proto-science fiction novels include The Hampdenshire Wonder (1911), A World of Women (1913), and The Riddle of the Tower (1944, with Esme Wynne-Tyson); he also wrote in the horror and ghost story genres. A great admirer of H.G. Wells, he wrote the first critical study of Wells in 1915. His daughter, Elisabeth Beresford (1926-2010), was creator of the literary and TV franchise The Wombles.

Astra Taylor is director of the philosophical documentaries Zizek! (2005), Examined Life (2008), and What Is Democracy? (2018). She is author of the American Book Award winner The People's Platform (2014) and Democracy May Not Exist, But We'll Miss It When It's Gone (2019), and coauthor of Can't Pay, Won't Pay: The Case for Economic Disobedience and Debt Abolition (2020). Her latest book is Remake the World: Essays, Reflections, Rebellions (2021).

Series Foreword vii
Introduction: Out of the Wreckage xiii
Astra Taylor
Book I The New Plague 1
1 The Gosling Family 3
2 The Opinions of Jasper Thrale 19
3 London's Incredulity 39
4 Mr Barker's Flair 45
5 The Closed Door 53
6 Disaster 65
7 Panic 79
8 Gurney in Cornwall 91
9 The Devolution of George Gosling 99
10 Exodus 121
Book II The March of the Goslings 127
11 The Silent City 129
12 Emigrant 149
13 Differences 169
14 Aunt May 183
15 From Sudbury to Wycombe 193
16 The Young Butcher of High Wycombe 209
Book III Womankind in the Making 223
17 London to Marlow 225
18 Modes of Expression 245
19 On the Flood 277
20 The Terrors of Spring 291
21 Smoke 299
Epilogue: The Great Plan 309