Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Themes
Synopsis
It is the 1960s. England has become a dictatorship, governed by a sly, ruthless politician called Jobling. All non-whites have been deported, The English Times is the only newspaper, and ordinary people live in dread of nightly curfews and secret police. Richard Watt used all his journalistic talents to expose Jobling before he came to power. Now in exile in a farmhouse amid the cruel heat of the Italian countryside, Watt cultivates his vineyards. His remote rural idyll is shattered by the arrival of an emissary from London. Derek Raymond's skill is to make all too plausible the transition from complacent democracy to dictatorship in a country preoccupied by consumerism and susceptible to media spin.
Is A State of Denmark appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 16 and up.
This dystopian political thriller depicts a fascist England with themes of racism, deportation, and authoritarian control. Contains political violence and oppression but no graphic content or sexual material.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and moderate language. Content notes include racism, political violence, and fascism (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens interested in political thrillers and cautionary tales about democracy's fragility will find this thought-provoking.