
The Dream (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Dystopian Sci-Fi ClassicBy H. G. WellsLength10h 17m
About this audiobook
The Dream is one of H. G. Wells's later speculative fictions, a utopian frame narrative in which a citizen of a distant, saner future dreams an entire life as Harry Mortimer Smith, a man of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Through this double vision, Wells anatomizes the cruelties of class, property, sexual convention, and war. Its style blends social realism, philosophical romance, and prophetic satire, placing it within Wells's mature project of using fiction as an instrument of historical diagnosis. Wells's own background illuminates the novel's urgency. Born in 1866 into precarious lower-middle-class circumstances, he knew apprenticeship, illness, self-education, and social frustration before becoming a major literary and public intellectual figure. Trained in science under T. H. Huxley and drawn to socialism, world reform, and evolutionary thought, Wells repeatedly imagined futures against which the present could be judged. The Dream reflects his postwar disillusionment and his persistent hope for rational reconstruction. This book is recommended for readers interested in utopian literature, modern social criticism, and the evolution of science fiction beyond adventure into moral inquiry. It is especially rewarding for those who wish to see Wells not merely as a storyteller of marvels, but as a restless critic of civilization itself.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreScience Fiction, Literary Classics
Length10 hrs 17 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJan 5, 2020
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Mauprat
11IV. — WIDOW SMITH MOVES TO LONDON
2Introduction
12PART 2. THE LOVES AND DEATH OF HARRY MORTIMER SMITH
3Synopsis
13V. — FANNY DISCOVERS HERSELF
4Historical Context
14VI. — MARRIAGE IN WAR TIME
5Author Biography
15VII. — LOVE AND DEATH
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6The Dream
16VIII. — THE EPILOGUE
7PART 1. HOW HARRY MORTIMER SMITH WAS MADE
17Analysis
8I. — THE EXCURSION
18Reflection
9II. — THE BEGINNING OF THE DREAM
19Memorable Quotes
10III. — MISFORTUNES COME UPON THE SMITH Family