Edward Mandell House

Philip Dru Edward Mandell House

In 1912, Edward Mandell House published his book Philip Dru: An Administrator. Drawing inspiration from Plato's ideal of the caring philosopher-king, House's novel depicts the rise of a benevolent dictator in early 20th century America. Written as part fictional biography and part fictional history, Philip Dru offers an intriguing insight into the fledgling Administrative State and how some contemporaries viewed it as a potential tool for social progress. Although over 100 years have passed since its publication, the questions central to the novel are extraordinarily relevant to society today: How should the government address oppression? How should the government handle income and wealth inequality? What measures can be taken to keep a government from becoming corrupt?