1905 A Hundred Years Hence: The Expectations of an Optimist

Description

Author's Presentation Copy, First Edition, Publishers' Original Binding, Very Scarce

The first edition of this very scarce work. A US edition, also very scarce, was published the following year.

Inscribed by the author to the half title with, 'E.B.R. from T.B.R. March 28 1905'. Little is known about the author of this work, but due to the similarity in initials, it is likely this is a presentation copy inscribed to a family member.

In his introduction, the author writes, 'the following was at first intended to be no more than an at-tempt to foresee the probable trend of mechanical invention and scientific discovery during the present century', he expands the work, however, to include sections dedicated to subjects including the law, religion, economics, the newspapers, and education, alongside discussing matters surrounding housing and population.

Russell explains that in 'these expectations of an optimist, a great ethical improvement of the civilised human race has been anticipated, and a rate of progress foreseen which perhaps no previous writers have looked for'.