After London: Wild England
📘 About This Book
Victorian Dystopian Science Fiction. A Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy Novel. Part I - THE RELAPSE INTO BARBARISM CHAPTER I - THE GREAT FOREST The old men say their fathers told them that soon after the fields were left to themselves a change began to be visible. It became green everywhere in the first spring, after London ended, so that all the country looked alike. The meadows were green, and so was the rising wheat which had been sown, but which neither had nor would receive any further care. Such arable fields as had not been sown, but where the last stubble had been ploughed up, were overrun with couch-grass, and where the short stubble had not been ploughed, the weeds hid it. So that there was no place which was not more or less green; the footpaths were the greenest of all, for such is the nature of grass where it has once been trodden on, and by-and-by, as the summer came on, the former roads were thinly covered with the grass that had spread out from the margin....
📖 Summary
After London: Wild England by Richard Jefferies is a pioneering work of post-apocalyptic fiction and dying earth science fiction, originally published in 1885. The novel is divided into two distinct parts. The first part, 'The Relapse into Barbarism,' details a catastrophic, unspecified collapse of modern civilization. Nature reclaims the British Isles with terrifying speed: London is reduced to a toxic, marshy lake shrouded in poisonous vapors, cultivated fields become impenetrable primeval forests, and society regresses to a feudal, tribal state. The infrastructure of the Victorian era has vanished, replaced by wild animals, overgrown ruins, and scattered human settlements struggling for survival. The second part, 'Wild England,' follows Felix Aquila, an ambitious young aristocrat living in this neo-medieval world. Dissatisfied with his stagnant society and unrequited love, Felix builds a canoe and embarks on a perilous, epic journey across the newly formed inland sea and the untamed wilderness of the former English countryside. Through his eyes, Jefferies explores a landscape both wondrous and terrifying, where humanity has been humbled by nature. Unlike later dystopian works driven by science fiction tropes or war warnings, Jefferies' vision is deeply rooted in naturalism, reflecting his profound knowledge of botany, ornithology, and rural English life. The novel serves not only as an adventure story but as a philosophical meditation on the impermanence of human achievement and the unstoppable, regenerative power of the natural world. It stands as a monumental precursor to modern ecological fiction and environmental literature.
🎯 Key Lessons
💬 Notable Quotes
"The great cities were gone, the immense populations had vanished, the roads had disappeared, and the fields had returned to their primeval wildness."
"Nature had resumed her own; and that which man had conquered with sweat and toil for so many centuries, was recovered by the earth in a few decades."
"In the place of cornfields there were vast impenetrable thickets; where herds of domestic cattle once grazed, wild and savage beasts now roamed through the tangled underwood."
"Man had forgotten his cunning; the machinery of the past was regarded with superstitious awe, like the relics of a race of giants whose history had faded into myth."
"The vast poisonous marsh, which men called the After-Lake, covered the site of the ancient metropolis, exhaling thick vapors under the sullen sky."
"To wander alone through this untrodden wilderness was to feel at once the absolute freedom of the earth and the profound loneliness of a forgotten world."
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Exquisite, highly detailed natural descriptions that showcase Jefferies' mastery of botany and landscape.
A remarkably ahead-of-its-time vision of post-apocalyptic survival and ecological recovery.
An imaginative and immersive second-half adventure that transforms familiar geography into an exotic wilderness.
⚠️ Cons
The first part can feel slow and overly descriptive for readers seeking a fast-paced narrative.
Victorian-era pacing and archaic prose style may present a barrier to modern readers.
✍️ About the Author
❓ FAQ
Is this book worth reading? +
Yes, it is considered a foundational masterpiece of post-apocalyptic fiction that offers unique ecological insights and beautiful prose.
How long does it take to read? +
Typically around 6 to 8 hours, depending on your reading speed and familiarity with 19th-century prose.
What is the main message? +
The main message is the ephemeral nature of human civilization in contrast to the eternal, reclaiming force of nature.
