Washington and the Riddle of Peace by H. G. Wells AUDIOBOOK

H. G. Wells, one of the twentieth century’s most incisive commentators and storytellers, here turns his attention to the turbulent aftermath of the First World War and the urgent quest for enduring peace. "Washington and the Riddle of Peace" comprises twenty-nine essays crafted during Wells’s attendance at the Washington Conference of 1921–22, a pivotal international gathering aimed at limiting armaments and steering the world away from renewed conflict. These pieces—by turns hopeful, skeptical, and deeply analytical—are not an official record of the proceedings, but the candid and intellectually agile impressions of a visitor keenly invested in the fate of civilization.

Wells’s style blends reportage and philosophical reflection, capturing the fluctuating moods of an era wounded by catastrophe yet striving for recovery. The essays trace his reactions—from flashes of optimism at the birth of new diplomatic initiatives to moments of doubt before the trivial distractions and self-interest that often beset even the most monumental gatherings. The contrast between the immensity of global challenges and the frailty of human resolve emerges as a central theme, explored through both the grandeur of international ambition and the commonplace diversions of conference delegates and observers alike.

Contextualized by the lingering devastation of war and pervasive economic instability, Wells interrogates the conditions necessary for authentic peace and probes the complexities of political will at a time when Europe’s decay and America’s apparent exuberance are intimately linked. Articulate, prescient, and unflinching, these essays offer today’s listener a vivid perspective on the obstacles to international cooperation and the perennial struggle to bind human society to higher aspirations. For readers drawn to the intersections of history, politics, and thoughtful inquiry, Wells’s contemplations remain as resonant as they were in the uncertain dawn of the 1920s.

Audiobook time & format : 5h41m9s, OPUS, 267 Mo
Audiobook free extract time & format : 5m (see below to listen), WAV
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