ðə vˈɪlənz ʌvðə pˈiːs nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti tˈuː pˈʌblɪʃt ɪnðə jˌuːˈɛs æz ðɪ ˈoʊθ ænd ðə sˈoːɹd, ɪz sˈɛt ɪn ɐn ˈɪŋɡlənd ɹˈækt baɪ ˈænɑːɹki ænd sˈɪvəl wˈɔːɹ.
The Villains of the Piece (1972) (published in the US as The Oath and the Sword), is set in an England racked by anarchy and civil war.