Nordenholt’s Million

When a new, insidious strain of denitrifying bacteria begins to systematically unravel the world's food supply, humanity faces an extinction-level event. Enter Stanley Nordenholt, a man of immense wealth and questionable ethics, who orchestrates a daring, desperate scheme to save a select fragment of the British population. Sequestered in a remote Scottish valley, this chosen few embarks on a frantic race against time, their dwindling provisions, and the encroaching chaos of a starving world, all while Nordenholt's iron will dictates their every move. It's a chilling thought experiment: what lines would you cross to preserve a sliver of civilization? First published in 1923, this prescient novel by J. J. Connington (a chemist by trade) masterfully fuses ecological disaster with a stark psychological and sociological examination. Its scientific underpinnings lend a chilling realism to the unfolding apocalypse, forcing readers to confront uncomfortable questions about survival, sacrifice, and the true cost of salvation. A gripping, thought-provoking journey into humanity's darkest corners, it remains remarkably relevant in an age grappling with environmental collapse.