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In 1940 the Second World War continued to rage, and atrocities wreaked around the globe made international waves. Wells, a socialist and prominent political thinker as well as a first-rate novelist, set down in The Rights of Man a stirring manifesto, designed to instruct the international community on how best to safeguard human rights.
The work gained traction, and was soon under discussion for becoming actual legislation. Although Wells didn't live to see it enacted, his words laid the groundwork for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which enshrined human rights in law for the first time, and was adopted by the United Nations in 1948, changing the course of history for ever and granting fundamental rights to billions.
This edition has an introduction by Burhan Sönmez, President of PEN International, 'He Told Us So'.
About the author
Herbert George Wells was an influential English writer, best known for his works in science fiction, though his prolific output spanned various genres, including history, social commentary, politics, and autobiography. Born on September 21, 1866, in Bromley, London, Wells attended the Normal School of Science in London, where he studied biology under Thomas Henry Huxley. Wells initially worked as a teacher and journalist before turning to writing full time. Over his career, he penned more than fifty novels, along with numerous short stories and non-fiction works. His early works, such as "The Time Machine," "The War of the Worlds," and "The Invisible Man," helped establish him as one of the pioneers of modern science fiction. He also explored themes of social justice, the possibilities of science and technology, and the complexities of human nature in works like "The History of Mr. Polly" and "The Shape of Things to Come." Throughout his life, Wells engaged in political and philosophical discourse, influenced by thinkers like Mark Twain and Plato. He died on August 13, 1946, in London, leaving behind a legacy that shaped the development of speculative fiction and continued to inspire future generations of writers and thinkers.
