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The Wanting Seed is a dystopian novel by the English author Anthony Burgess, written in 1962.
Theme
Although the novel addresses many societal issues, the primary subject is overpopulation and its relation to culture. Religion, government, and history are also addressed. A significant portion of the book is a condemnation of war.
Burgess once said, "I have spent the last 25 years thinking that The Wanting Seed could, in my leisurely old age, be expanded to a length worthy of the subject."
Plot
The novel begins by introducing the two protagonists: Tristram Foxe, a history teacher, an...