What Might Have Been - The Story of a Social War
What Might Have Been is an important early work of dystopian fiction. It was published anonymously in 1909 by Ernest Bramah. In the novel, the Labour Party of England wins an overwhelming majority in parliament and forms a government. Bramah and others in his time had fears about what would happen if the socialist Labour Party were to gain a political majority. The novel concerns the attempts of a league of upper class members of society to overthrow this government in what is depicted as a positive outcome. George Orwell credited Bramah with predicting the rise of Fascism, and Bramah's novel has been cited as having a direct influence on Nineteen Eighty-Four. The 1909 U.S. edition was published under the alternate title, The Secret of the League.
Hardcover. First Edition. Octavo, brown cloth. London: John Murray, 1907. #11163.
Nearly fine copy of the book in seldom seen original dust jacket. Front flap of jacket has separated along fold, and has darkening along spine, some chipping to ends and corners, short tear at base of spine, and 1"x2" piece missing from lower corner of front panel. Still, presentable example of an incredibly rare dust jacket.