What Not

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"What Not" is a lost classic of feminist wit and protest at social engineering, republished with the suppressed pages reinstated. It follows the story of Kitty Grammont and Nicholas Chester, who are in love despite their classifications as A for breeding purposes and uncertificated, respectively. The media discovers their affair and attempts to expose it, but the couple manages to keep it hidden.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 195 pages
\n Publication date: 25 March 2019
\n Publisher: Handheld Press
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What Not is a remarkable speculative novel by Rose Macaulay, published in 1918, that delves into the realm of post-First World War eugenics and newspaper manipulation. This remarkable work anticipated Aldous Huxley's Brave New World by a staggering 14 years. However, due to several potentially libellous pages, it was swiftly withdrawn and reissued in 1919. Regrettably, by that time, Macaulay's subsequent two novels overshadowed it, and the book never received the attention it truly deserved. What Not is a lost classic of feminist wit and protest against social engineering, and it is now republished with the suppressed pages reinstated. The novel revolves around the love story of Kitty Grammont and Nicholas Chester. Despite their deep affection for each other, Kitty is certified as an A for breeding purposes, while Chester has been uncertificated and is prohibited from marrying. The question arises: why? There seems to be nothing inherently wrong with Chester. He is admired in his field, charismatic, and decisive. Kitty, as a senior civil servant in the Ministry of Brains, which assigns these classifications, possesses considerable power, yet she is bound by the restrictions imposed on her. Despite these limitations, Kitty and Chester choose to disregard the rules and embark on a discreet affair. However, their clandestine relationship is not enough to evade the watchful eyes of the media. The popular press, driven by a fierce desire to expose the brutal regime of the Ministry of Brains, becomes aware of Kitty and Chester's relationship. Sensing an opportunity for a scandalous expose, they launch a relentless campaign to uncover the truth. The introduction to this edition of What Not is provided by Sarah Lonsdale, a senior lecturer in journalism at City University London. Her insights offer valuable context and enhance our understanding of the novel's historical and social significance.

\n Weight: 298g\n
Dimension: 139 x 215 x 13 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781912766031\n
Edition number: New ed\n