Millennialism, science, and colonialism in Andrew Blair's 'Annals of the twenty-ninth century'

Abstract

Currently little literature discusses Andrew Blair's novel 'Annals of the Twenty-ninth Century'. This thesis examines the novel in relationship to its historical context, arguing that millennialism, science, and colonialism interact in a way that both allow the characters agency to create change while simultaneously forcing the characters to act as passive vehicles for divine will. To describe this state of non-agential agency, the author uses the term evangelical agency, highlighting the way in which spiritual change becomes the driving force for action.