The Fixed Period

In the Republic of Britannula, a remote island settled by English colonists, a radical law has been passed: the Fixed Period. At sixty-seven every citizen is to be deposited in a comfortable college, and before sixty-eight be peacefully put to death. President John Neverbend, the law's architect, believes it will spare the elderly from suffering and keep society young and vigorous. But when his own friend Gabriel Crasweller becomes the first to face the Fixed Period, the experiment begins to unravel. Opposition grows, families divide, and a British warship arrives to challenge Britannula's independence.

Written in 1882, The Fixed Period is Anthony Trollope's only dystopian novel, a provocative blend of political satire, science fiction, and moral inquiry. Through the earnest, self-justifying voice of President Neverbend, Trollope explores questions that remain urgent today: How do we treat our elders? What is the value of a life when it is no longer productive? And can a society be built on reason alone? This early dystopia will appeal to readers of H. G. Wells, Aldous Huxley, and anyone interested in the history of speculative fiction.

This edition contains the complete text of The Fixed Period, a new introduction, a character guide, a summary of the story, a thematic overview, a glossary of period terms, and discussion questions for readers, students, and book clubs.