Page - 56 - in JRFM - Journal Religion Film Media, Volume 05/02

When he declares himself dictator, Nordenholt clearly has a long-term vision that goes far beyond the immediate crisis. In contrast to the novel’s self-serv- ing politicians, Nordenholt works for the survival and control of a minority of the population: a eugenic selection of Britain’s most talented and hard-work- ing people. The remainder are sacrificed to the blight. Without Nordenholt’s dictatorship, the novel suggests, there can be no effective action, survival or progress; the country, and the population, requires a guiding, driving force, an architect and overseer, embodied by Nordenholt himself. THE NIETZSCHEAN IDEA OF THE ÜBERMENSCH AND NORDENHOLT’S MILLION The “extremes of Englishness” ideology found within Nordenholt’s Million is embodied to a significant degree by Nordenholt himself. His characterisation draws upon a number of Nietzsche-derived ideas that were in the popular cul- tural consciousness in the first part of the twentieth century. Anti-democratic political ideologies gained increasing popularity in the inter-war years, a fact reflected in the rise of fascism across Europe following the First World War. What is clear from this movement towards autocracy is that forceful, decisive leadership was considered an appealing alternative to what were increasingly perceived as ineffective modes of government. Both in Europe and in Britain fascism came to be regarded as a positive force that would allow for the crea- tion of a new society following the experience of the First World War.26 In Brit- ain, a growing number of thinkers were echoing the anti-democratic sentiments emerging across Europe.27 By adopting a “history of ideas” approach, Stone demonstrates that such disillusionment with democracy was evident in fascist impulses in Britain. These fascist impulses are readily observable in Nordenholt’s Million. Indeed, an intellectual recourse to extreme responses as means of re- solving problems was not uncommon, making Nordenholt’s Million’s depiction of extreme measures to achieve wish fulfilment perhaps appealing to contem- porary readers. Presented as an ideal leader, Nordenholt has much in common with the idea of the Nietzschean Übermensch, whose popularity had grown through this pe- riod of post-war instability. Within the text, society is presented as something to be driven and shaped, to be managed and, at times of crisis, manipulated for its long-term benefit by such a leader. Richard Overy explains that the idea of a “New Order” based on authoritarian rule and active, decisive government in which a dictatorship is better suited to representing a nation was influenced by 26 Thurlow 1987, 25. 27 Thurlow 1987, 8. 56 | Jennifer Woodward www.jrfm.eu 2019, 5/2, 51–68