The Ruling Class (novel)

The Ruling Class is a satirical novel by Peter Barnes, published in 1968. It is best known for its dark humor, absurdist elements, and exploration of themes such as class, power, religion, and madness within the British aristocracy.

The story centers around Jack Arnold Alexander Tancred Gurney, the 14th Earl of Gurney, who inherits the title and vast estate after his father's accidental death (suffocation during a bizarre auto-erotic asphyxiation ritual). Jack, however, believes himself to be Jesus Christ, bringing his eccentric and delusional worldview to the staid and tradition-bound world of the British upper class.

The novel follows Jack's attempts to live out his perceived divinity, his family's efforts to have him declared insane to retain control of the estate, and the machinations of various characters who seek to exploit or manipulate him for their own gain. These include his scheming uncle, Sir Charles, a psychiatrist attempting to "cure" him, and other members of the aristocratic establishment who are alternately amused, horrified, and threatened by his unconventional behavior.

The Ruling Class is notable for its biting satire of the British class system, its critique of institutional religion, and its exploration of the nature of sanity and madness. It questions who is truly "mad" – the eccentric Earl who believes he is God, or the supposedly sane society that clings to outdated traditions and self-serving power structures. The novel employs grotesque humor, surreal situations, and moments of genuine pathos to deliver its message, making it a challenging and thought-provoking work.

The novel was adapted into a 1972 film of the same name, starring Peter O'Toole.