Mr. Parham is a university academic of the traditional, classical sort, very much a snob and unhappy with many of the social trends of the time.
Sir Bussy Woodcock is a self-made millionaire of sharp intelligence and great energy but lowly beginnings and no cultural education. Parhams body, and commences to inspire a political movement (the League of Duty Paramount) that overthrows the British government in a coup détat.
This is an intriguing tale which Wells uses to explore opposing social and political views of the period, with the fantasy element a vehicle for so doing.