book cover of One Half of the World
 

One Half of the World

(1957)
A novel by

 
 
Trevor Baxter, ex-pilot in the war which Europe lost, is now a detective in Internal Security in occupied Britain. His allegiance is firmly transferred to his new masters; his beliefs poisoned with the new religion of the autocratic State. That is, until he falls in love with Gillian.

This is a country governed by the strong arm of dictatorship; a country where the patriot is a traitor; where life is controlled in the name of Internal Security, and where men and women who cling to religious faith are automatically suspect.

When Trevor begins to find God through his relationship with Gillian, an old enemy surfaces, eager to betray him and report his subversive activities. Trevor is forced to make difficult choices as he plots his escape, now an enemy of an oppressive regime that deals with dissent in only one way.

'There is no absurdity in comparing Mr Barlow's second book with Brave New World or 1984 for it is much more than a prophetic thriller. Barlow's dogma is so nearly integrated with his keen observation of scenes and people that they are more convincing than usual. The novel inspires respect and terror.' - Birmingham Post

'It may be that the fantasies of today will be realities of the future, but, for all that, those who invent imaginary futures are probably well advised to keep one foot in the world as we know it. Mr Barlow's understanding of this fact is the prime virtue of One Half of the World. Mr Barlow has written an exciting adventure story, with a dramatic climax of pursuit and escape. One Half of the World is a most commendable attempt to write seriously about a possible future.' - Time Literary Supplement

'Mr Barlow's first book was a crime story, and so is this, but the crime is not that of one man against society, but of society's crime against one man. It is exciting and has action and pace as well as the more serious and somber quality of it-could-happen-here.' - Guardian Journal

'Lives fully up to the imaginative quality of his first, which lifted him right away into the Transatlatic and European bestseller class.' - Birmingham Mail

'There are some breathlessly exciting moments in this unusual thriller, and through it all runs a great sense of the tremendous clash between the occupiers and the stubborn Britons - all the power in one half of the world, on one side, and on the other only the courage never to submit or yield' - Yorkshire Evening Press

'He is so successful in revitalizing this inert form of fiction that I can listen to him telling almost any story' - Punch

'Mr Barlow's first book, The Protagonists, promised much. His second novel confirms these hopes' - Northern Echo

'It is a powerful novel of suspense and violent action, a timely novel, a beautiful love story.' - Boston, Mass. Herald


Genre: Science Fiction

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