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Cover of When It Was Dark: The Story of a Great Conspiracy

When It Was Dark: The Story of a Great Conspiracy

Written by Guy Thorne

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EnglandChristian fictionConspiracies

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About this book

"When It Was Dark: The Story of a Great Conspiracy" by Guy Thorne is a novel written in the early 20th century. The narrative unfolds in a clerical setting, concentrating on the conflicts between faith and skepticism in a darkening world influenced by a looming conspiracy against Christianity. It follows the interactions among the parish vicar, Mr. Byars, his curate Basil Gortre, and a controversial millionaire, Mr. Schuabe, who embodies the secular challenges to their beliefs. The opening of the story establishes a gloomy atmosphere in Walktown, where the characters navigate their stark realities within the church and their broader societal context. Mr. Hinchcliffe, a sexton, engages in his work at the church while the curate, Basil Gortre, struggles with disapproval from his congregation regarding his religious expressions. The vicar, Mr. Byars, reflects on his challenges in reaching his parishioners and the impending departure of Gortre to London. The introduction of Mr. Schuabe sets the stage for the ideological conflicts between materialism and spiritual conviction, creating a palpable tension that hints at the greater conspiracy that will unfold. As darkness gathers outside, symbolically reflecting the characters' struggles, the narrative prepares the reader for the profound challenges of faith that lie ahead.

Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in When It Was Dark: The Story of a Great Conspiracy, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 8 hours
  • intermediate
  • dark
  • philosophical
  • suspenseful

Guy Thorne's "When It Was Dark" plunges readers into a gloomy early 20th-century clerical world, where the parish vicar, Mr. Byars, and his curate, Basil Gortre, grapple with dwindling faith amidst their congregation and the profound challenges posed by a rising tide of secularism. The narrative quickly introduces Mr. Schuabe, a controversial millionaire who embodies the materialist threat to spiritual conviction, setting the stage for a grand conspiracy against Christianity itself. As a symbolic darkness gathers over Walktown, the characters must confront not only their personal doubts but also an insidious, organized effort to dismantle their faith, testing the very foundations of their beliefs and society. The novel explores the profound struggle between spiritual light and encroaching skepticism in a world seemingly on the brink of moral collapse.

“"The darkness outside was not merely of the evening; it was a shadow creeping into the very soul of the parish."”

Key themes

Faith vs. Skepticism/Doubt
This is the central conflict of the novel, explored through the personal struggles of Mr. Byars and Basil Gortre, and externalized through the antagonistic figure of Mr. Schuabe. The theme examines the fragility of belief in a world increasingly dominated by scientific rationalism and materialism, questioning how faith can endure and even thrive when confronted with systematic doubt and organized efforts to discredit it.
The Nature of Conspiracy
The novel delves into the mechanics and psychological impact of a vast, organized conspiracy, not just as a plot device but as a commentary on perceived threats to societal order. It explores how such a conspiracy operates through manipulation, propaganda, and the subtle erosion of truth, and how individuals might react when confronted with an unseen enemy seeking to dismantle fundamental societal structures.
Materialism vs. Spirituality
This theme pits the pursuit of earthly wealth, comfort, and scientific rationalism against the timeless values of spiritual devotion and transcendent truth. Mr. Schuabe embodies the allure and destructive power of materialism, arguing that only the tangible and provable hold value, while the clergymen represent the enduring human need for meaning beyond the material world.

Worth discussing

How does Thorne use the 'darkness' motif to symbolize both physical and spiritual decline in the novel?

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