Anno Domini 2000: Woman's Destiny

Description

Before women even got the vote, this novel prophesied women presidents, prime ministers and leaders of the opposition. Before the Wright Brothers or Richard Pearse flew, it predicted global air travel. Before the Labour Party, it advocated social welfare and subsidised housing, and before the computer and email it foresaw a "noiseless telegraph". With Britain's Empire rampant and Home Rule in ruins, it anticipated a prosperous independent Ireland and attempted secession by Australia. As prophecy, Julius Vogel's 2000 came nearer the mark than George Orwell's 1984, according to Roger Robinson in his informative critical introduction to this special edition for the year 2000, the first new edition since the original was published in 1889.

Senior Professor of English at Victoria University of Wellington, Rober Robinson has also served as Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Academic). He is also know internationally as a sports essayist. Sir Julius Vogel (1835-99) was founder-editor of the Otago Daily Times before entering politics and rising to serve at cabinet level in the New Zealand Government between 1868 and 1888. He led a programme of economic and infrastructural development that proved crucial to New Zealand's establishment as an independent nation. Julius Vogel was Prime Minister in 1873-75 and again in 1876, and was knighted in 1875.