When William Came

by Saki

"When William Came" by Saki is a novel published in November 1913. Set in a future London under German occupation after Britain's defeat in war, it chronicles life under Kaiser Wilhelm II's rule. This work of invasion literature explores the dramatic changes brought by foreign conquest, from altered legal systems to enforced police registration. Written amid rising European tensions, the novel serves as both a warning and an argument for military preparedness, painting a bitter portrait of a subjugated England.