Napoleon Bonaparte's France was very much like the Village, a parallel between the two can be quickly drawn. The Citizens of France, like in the Village, were not allowed to voice opinions. Bonaparte had a network of spies throughout France, watching and reporting the slightest act of disloyalty, just as Observers in the Village. You will recall, in Hammer Into Anvil, the shopkeeper who quickly reported to No.2 the strange behaviour of No.6 in his shop. And then went running off to No.2's office to give a full and detailed report on No.6's activitiy in person, taking both the records and newspaper with him.
No.2 of The Chimes of Big Ben had a dream of the whole Earth as the Village, seeing the Village as a blueprint for world order, an International community. This just as Bonaperte saw France as a blueprint for a unified Europe, an International community, and like the Village with one currency - a unified Europe that would have the Franc. And as a footnote: Bonaparte also has a plan for the first Channel tunnel between France and England.
Be seeing you
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