Demos

by George Gissing

"Demos" by George Gissing is a novel written between 1885 and 1886. When a working-class socialist unexpectedly inherits a fortune, he attempts to create an ideal industrial community based on socialist principles. But wealth and power expose his character flaws, leading him to betray his ideals and those closest to him. As his grand vision crumbles and enemies multiply, his moral corruption spirals toward a violent reckoning that will determine his fate and that of everyone drawn into his orbit.