Here’s a very short extract referring to the 1880s or 1890s from an essay by George Orwell, written in 1941.
Society was ruled by narrow-minded, profoundly incurious people, predatory business men, dull squires, bishops, politicians who could quote Horace but had never heard of algebra. Science was faintly disreputable and religious belief obligatory. Traditionalism, stupidity, snobbishness, patriotism, superstition and love of war seemed to be all on the same side; there was need of someone who could state the opposite point of view.
Despite claims to the contrary rather a lot of this still holds.
From Wells, Hitler and the World State in George Orwell, Critical Essays, 1946.
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