A gripping historical saga of rebellion against the machine.
In 1812, as war rages with Napoleon, English mill-masters experiment with a new factory system, acquiring machines that replace men. A young worker leads the Luddites, attacking mills and smashing machines. With increased assaults and even murder, North England feels the grip of terrorism. Government agents attempt to suppress the rebellion.
Against the Machineunveils the rank exploitation that marked the Industrial Revolution. Set in Yorkshire, England, it follows diverse characters caught in this conflict, exploring themes of social injustice, economic inequality, and the human cost of progress. Will the Luddites succeed in their fight, or will the relentless march of progress crush them?
"[The] multifaceted approach to the issues of the novel is what makes it so powerful ...The themes of revolution and machines are apt for our times. ... it is this parallel between the present and the past that makesAgainst the Machines: Ludditesa must-read in 2020." —Will Fawley, Prairie Fire
"... visionary in its scope, illuminating humanity’s eternal struggle with wars and ideologies ... The research is impeccable, the details fascinating. The true meaning of “terrorism” is demonstrated together with its techniques. This is educational movie material." —Amanda Hale, Ottawa Review of Books
"This book brings the plight of the mill-workers to life ... Van Norman did a fantastic job of humanizing their conflict ... the author asks his reader to look below the still surface of our history and come face to face with reality." —Jean Roberts, The Book Delight
Once a teacher, theatre director and adjudicator, Brian Van Norman left those worlds behind to travel the planet with his wife, Susan, and take up writing as a full time pursuit. With flƒ(
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