12 - Anglo-American Alliance A Comic Love Story of the Future by Gregory Casparian

Praised by io9 as the first lesbian science fiction novel, *An Anglo-American Alliance* is a whimsical exploration of love, transformation, and geopolitics set in the imaginative year of 1960. In this world, the Anglo-American Alliance reigns as a global government, heralding a new era of technological and social progress. Yet, even in this seemingly utopian time, the love that dare not speak its name remains taboo. The narrative centers on the secret romance blossoming between two women, Margaret MacDonald and Aurora Cunningham, at a ladies seminary in Cornwall. As they navigate their hidden desires, they also learn to harness the powers of science and technology to turn their dreams into reality. Please note While the novel offers progressive insights on sexuality and gender identity, it also reflects the prejudices of its era, containing instances of ethnocentrism, antisemitism, and casual racism that may be uncomfortable for some listeners. - Summary by ChuckW

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter eleven of An Anglo American Alliance. This is a
LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
Recording by Chuck Williamson, An Anglo American Alliance by Gregory Casparian,

(00:24):
Chapter eleven, Lord Cunningham, Viceroy of India. Hardly had Margaret
reached her home in Wyoming when Aurora, likewise, was welcomed
by her people in England. Her father, whose brilliant career
upward from the ranks of the common people had astonished

(00:45):
the diplomats of the world, meanwhile had been raised to
the highest rank of peerage. Being a born leader with
such inexhaustible sagacity and acumen, his promotion from one important
position to another was not only inevitable but necessary. And
hardly a month had elapsed since Aurora's return to London

(01:08):
before he was gazetted as Lord Cunningham Viceroy to India.
The situation at that time in India was quite a
delicate one. On account of the Tibetan boundary question with Russia.
The latter had raised her periodical spasm of aggression in

(01:28):
order to attain certain political ends at home, and the
departure of Lord Cunningham was therefore hastened. It was near
the end of November when Lord Cunningham, his wife and
beautiful daughter were regally received in Bombay. Distinguished looking in
his six feet two inches of height with a leonine countenance,

(01:52):
the Lord at once captivated the Indian rajahs princes and
also commanded the respect of the post populace. His courteous manners,
forceful in firm proclamations, and actual philanthropic undertakings, coupled with
his propaganda of dispensing equal justice to all, aroused at

(02:15):
once the enthusiasm, patriotism and loyalty of every class, and
quieted the racial differences in political disquietude among the people.
The Russian government, seeing the solid phalanx of unity and
change of sentiment of the Indian people, beat a hasty

(02:36):
retreat under the subtrifuge of quelling an alleged disturbance on
the borders of Manchuria. In order to give himself an
opportunity for general introduction, Lord Cunningham decided to hold a
reception and dance. It was planned to follow the style
of entertaining then in vogue, a combination of literary and

(02:58):
musical talent, to be followed by a reception. Among the
many who had consented to contribute to the evening's entertainment,
and occupying the place of honor was the celebrated savant
Abu Shimshek, the astronomer of Ispahan, who had just returned
from an adventurous expedition to the Himalayas to investigate nature's wonders.

(03:24):
Lord Cunningham, being aware of the presence of the celebrated
prodigies the Dusky Quartet, who were on their itinerary to Bombay,
had sought and engaged their services for the occasion. An
American violin virtuoso Spencer Hamilton, who had created a fur

(03:45):
in Simla week previously at a fashionable society recital and
was acclaimed as an unequaled maestro of his instrument, had
also promised to appear during the entertainment and render a
few selections on the violin. On the night of the Soare,
a great multitude of natives as well as imminent European personages,

(04:10):
were present in all the picturesque splendor of the habiliments
of their respective countries. There were maharajahs dazzling with diamonds,
accompanied by their retinue blazing with silver and gold embroidered costumes,
Ascetic Brahmins and somber looking Fakirs from the seats of

(04:33):
Learning of Hyderabad, mysterious emissaries from the sacred city of Delhi,
learned sheikhs with flowing patriarchal beards from Arabia and Egypt,
Magicians from all over Persia, besides all fashionable folk from
military posts throughout the East Indian Empire. Dashing and handsome

(04:56):
officers fight with each other in their endeavor to do
alle image to the beautiful Aurora, who is enthroned next
to her mother. After a prelude on the dulcophone, Abu
shimshek amidst the Huzzah and clamor of the assemblage with
great dignity came forward and with uplifted arms, invoking the

(05:18):
spirits of Hafiz and for Dozi to endow him with eloquence,
began to account of his thrilling adventure as follows end
of chapter eleven,