The story begins in England in 2052.

The nation is divided into the crowded, violent Conurb and the green countryside of the County. Life in the Conurb offers bright lights and incessant action, and Conurban citizens enjoy the "sense of being part of a noisy mass of people who . . . give each other reassurance and security." The gentry, with their servants and large houses, lead tranquil lives in a pre-World War I ambiance.

Although modern technology exists in the County, it is carefully hidden; most transport is by horse and carriage, and candles and oil lamps light many houses. The gentry imagine Conurban life to be a raucous nightmare, while the Conurbans consider the gentry dull and their servants contemptible.

Youngsters in the Conurb are discouraged from reading and writing, and their education consists largely of indoctrination. Education of the gentry follows a more traditional pattern, although individual thought is...