Details

Summary note

"1931: A Glance at the Twentieth Century" by Henry Hartshorne is a speculative diary-format book written in the late 19th century that presents a fictional account of the future as perceived from the year 1881. The text explores various sociopolitical, cultural, and technological changes that Hartshorne imagines will occur by 1931, delving into themes like governance, social equity, and public health. The likely topic revolves around utopian visions and reflections on progress in the early 20th century. In the diary, the narrator discusses a range of matters, including shifts in political power, the status of the British monarchy, and the status of race relations in the United States. Hartshorne envisions a future where the United States has expanded to include territories like Mexico and parts of Central America while also contextualizing changes in Europe, such as the evolving roles of England and France post-monarchy. He reflects on advancements in science, technology, and public health, commenting on the societal embrace of women's suffrage and the growing influence of education. The narrative is a rich tapestry of speculative reflections and critical observations, presenting an optimistic yet critical view of societal evolution towards a more equitable and peaceful future. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Notes

• Reading ease score: 55.6 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.
• Release date is 2010-02-03

Creation/​Production credits

E-text prepared by David Starner, Tamise Totterdell, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from scanned images of public domain material generously made available by the Google Books Library Project (http://books.google.com/)

Original version

Original publication data not identified

Statement on responsible collection description

Princeton University Library aims to describe library materials in a manner that is respectful to the individuals and communities who create, use, and are represented in the collections we manage. Read more...