Event Type: Branch

Takes Place: 12th November 2024

Time: 7pm

Venue: Room 2.01 Park Building, King Henry I St, Portsmouth PO1 2BZ

Description: This is the narrative of a "future fiction" attack on Portsmouth by a French / Russian alliance. The story was written in 1895 and is an interesting example of what was a very popular genre at the time. The story was serialised in the Portsmouth News in the run up to a general election. The owner of the newspaper, and prospective MP, was Alfred Harmsworth (later Lord Northcliffe), who used the story to promote the risks of neglecting the navy and dockyards - which he of course would support if elected. The talk starts with the political context of why the story was written and the political aftermath. We then move on to a technical analysis of whether the fictional campaign could have been possible.

How to book: No need to book, just turn up

Price: £4

Email: portsmouthhistorybranch@gmail.com

Organiser: Kate

Lecturer: Lewis Sharp, Secretary, Palmerston Forts Society

Region: South-East England

Branch: Portsmouth