This narrative about the literary community has unusually high stakes involving time traveling and more so in an alternate universe. Fforde’s The Eyre Affair initiates the adventures of the main character in the series, the literary detective Thursday Next. This universe is alternate in multiple layers that includes the different history from our reality and also the potential of altering literary history within it. Therefore it explores the ‘what ifs’ in history that range from war history, technology, and the significance of literary works. The infinite possibilities of how works of literature can be altered pose a threat to the fabric of society and moreover the outcome of actual history. Thus, akin to the title, meta-textuality is the core of the narrative as it merges the world of classic novels with its own. The originality of these texts and their impact on society is threatened by forces that intend to benefit or topple the status quo. In a broader sense, the novel alludes to the importance of literature in a world where there is a paradigm shift in entertainment into multimedia.
The backdrop of the story is a parallel universe where the Crimean War is still ongoing whilst the protagonist attempts to solve a mystery in the literary community. She seeks to retrieve original manuscripts of Charles Dickens and Charlotte Brontë’s works that the antagonist Acheron Hades uses to cause havoc. Through the invention Prose Portal, persons can cross to and fro the literary texts which see the characters kidnapped and their storylines altered. As these worlds intersect the novel showcases a farfetched yet relevant allegory of the threat literature faces in terms of its bearing in society. Either through the loss of quality over time due to profits or cheapened for mass consumption and accessibility.
Furthermore, it delves into the subject of war by incorporating a pacifist protagonist and highlighting the absurdity of war. In this case, the Crimean War has lasted for over a century and its agenda has been blurred over time as both sides are at a stalemate. Moreover, it explores the big business of war as the Goliath corporation profits from mechanizing weapons for the continuation of the war. Thus, the narrative demonstrates an antiwar attitude by exploring how truth is the first thing to be lost in a war.
