Discover H. G. Wells’s collected thoughts on the turbulent post-war world in ‘A Year of Prophesying’ and read the complete book online for free.
Published in 1924, A Year of Prophesying is a collection of journalism and essays by H. G. Wells, written in the immediate aftermath of World War I and the failed peace. Unlike his utopian blueprints or scientific romances, this book is Wells the public intellectual and pamphleteer, offering his diagnosis of a civilization in crisis and his prescriptions for its survival. The essays cover a vast range of topics—politics, education, science, history, the future of warfare, and the role of the League of Nations—all unified by Wells’s central, urgent belief: that humanity must adopt a rational, scientific, and global outlook or face self-destruction.
The tone is one of frustrated prophecy. Wells had hoped the war would shock humanity into establishing a world state; instead, he saw a retreat into nationalism, economic chaos, and petty politics. These essays are his attempt to shake his readers awake. He analyzes the shortcomings of democracy, advocates for a universal encyclopedia to consolidate human knowledge, critiques the education system for producing narrow minds, and warns of the coming dangers of aerial warfare. His style is clear, forceful, and often polemical, blending the authority of a historian with the passion of a reformer.
A Year of Prophesying is a fascinating time capsule of interwar anxiety and hope. It captures Wells at a pivotal moment, shifting from the visionary optimism of his pre-war work to a more urgent, sometimes pessimistic, call to action. Reading it offers invaluable insight into the mindset of one of the 20th century’s most influential thinkers as he confronted the daunting task of rebuilding a shattered world.
On this page, you can engage with Wells’s provocative contemporary thought. We offer the complete 1924 collection for online reading.
Book Info
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Title | A Year of Prophesying |
| Author | H. G. Wells |
| Year of Publication | 1924 |
| Genre | Journalism, Essays, Political Philosophy |
| Language | English (Original) |
| Legal Status | Public Domain |
| Format | Online Reading |
Read A Year of Prophesying Online
Listen to a prophet of the modern age. Begin exploring Wells’s post-war essays interactively below.
This preview introduces Wells’s urgent, diagnostic tone, but the full range of his essays on politics, science, and the future is available in the complete text for our subscribers.
A subscription unlocks this collection of Wellsian thought and our library of 20th-century non-fiction and political writing. Understand the past to navigate the future.
About A Year of Prophesying
The book is less a systematic argument than a series of dispatches from the front lines of Wells’s mind as he observed the world of the early 1920s.
The Core Thesis: World State or Bust
Wells’s overriding message is that nationalism is obsolete and suicidal. The technological scale of modern war (which he predicted with chilling accuracy) and economic interdependence make the sovereign nation-state a dangerous anachronism. He advocates relentlessly for a strengthened, rational League of Nations as the first step toward a true world government.
The Role of Education and Knowledge
Wells believed the root cause of political failure was an uninformed, emotionally driven public. He calls for an education system that teaches world history and citizenship, and he famously championed the idea of a “World Brain”—a permanent, constantly updated world encyclopedia that would make all human knowledge accessible, fostering a common, rational understanding of our problems.
Critiques of Contemporary Politics
He is scathing about the short-sightedness of post-war politicians, the greed of capitalists, the inertia of the ruling classes, and the failures of the press. He sees democracy as flawed but salvageable only through the education and active engagement of a knowledgeable populace.
Scientific Humanism
Wells’s faith is in the scientific method applied to human affairs. He argues for decisions based on evidence and expert knowledge, rather than tradition, sentiment, or ideology. This technocratic vision is both the source of his insights and, to modern readers, a potential blind spot to the value of pluralism and local culture.
Why Read A Year of Prophesying Today?
Its uncanny prescience is astounding. Wells writes about the threat of pandemics, the weaponization of air power, media manipulation, and the dangers of resurgent nationalism—all issues that dominate the 21st century. Reading him is a humbling reminder that our central challenges are not new.
It is also a masterclass in engaged, public intellectual writing. To read A Year of Prophesying is to sit with a restless, brilliant mind trying to think a way out of crisis, to feel the weight of recent catastrophe, and to be challenged by a vision of human unity that remains both compelling and elusive.
FAQ
Can I read A Year of Prophesying for free?
Yes, you can read the first essays for free via our interactive preview. Access to the complete collection requires a subscription.
Is this a good introduction to H.G. Wells’s ideas?
Yes, it’s an excellent primer on his non-fiction thought. It’s more accessible and topical than his utopian schematics and shows the practical application of his philosophy to current events of the 1920s.
Was Wells a socialist?
Yes, of a specific, Fabian variety. He believed in a planned, scientific world socialism administered by a technocratic elite. His socialism was internationalist and anti-Marxist, focused on efficiency and rational distribution.
How accurate were his prophecies?
Many were remarkably accurate, especially regarding technology and geopolitics. Where he failed was in underestimating the persistence of nationalist, religious, and tribal identities, and overestimating humanity’s capacity for rational, collective action.
Can I read it on my phone?
Yes. The essay format is perfect for reading one piece at a time on any device.