A Fair Barbarian

The arrival of mills near the genteel village of Slowbridge disrupts its conservative social fabric, threatening the refined lifestyle upheld by its aristocratic matriarch. The presence of smoke, dirt, and the working-class populace stirs fears of mob violence and vulgarity, creating tension between the village's elite and the new industrial reality. This clash highlights the struggle between tradition and progress, as the villagers grapple with the changes brought by industrialization.