Against the Machine: Luddites

At war against Napoleon, near-bankrupt English mill-masters experiment with a new factory system, acquiring machines to replace men. A young worker leads the Luddites, attacking mills and smashing machines. With increased assaults and even murder, North England feels the grip of terrorism. Government agents attempt to suppress the rebellion. In 1812, there are more British troops in North England than fighting Napoleon in Europe. Against the Machine: Luddites relates the story of the diverse characters caught in this conflict. It unveils the rank exploitation which marked the Industrial Revolution. Timely, intense, and reflective of another technological revolution: our own.

What Critics are Saying:
 

"Van Norman has just established himself as one of the great storytellers in the historical genre, crafting a novel that is rich in history and culture and that absorbs the reader right from the very first sentence." — David Reyes, The Book Commentary
 

"An important book that does what historical fiction does best, shines the torch of a specific historical event on a parallel contemporary trend." — A.K. Hale
 

"Jane Austen meets Quentin Tarantino..." — Alan Brooke, Huddersfield Local Historical Society