The New Machiavelli

"The New Machiavelli" by H. G. Wells is a novel written during the early 20th century. The book engages with themes of politics, personal ambition, and societal change through the lens of its protagonist, who reflects on his life and aspirations, drawing parallels with Niccolò Machiavelli's political philosophies. The narrative promises a blend of personal and political exploration as the main character grapples with his experiences and desires in a rapidly evolving world. The opening of "The New Machiavelli" introduces the protagonist reflecting on his struggles to settle into a new lifestyle at the age of two and forty. He expresses a profound restlessness as he grapples with unfinished works and the looming comparisons to Machiavelli, whose own political writings resonate with him. The protagonist contemplates the arc of his political ambitions that have been thwarted, his understanding of human nature, including the complexity of women's roles in society, and the burgeoning chaos of modern governance influenced by the fragmentation of power. This sets the stage for a narrative that explores not only the protagonist’s personal journey but also the broader societal transformations of his time. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Herbert George Wells was an English writer, prolific in many genres. He wrote more than fifty novels and dozens of short stories. His non-fiction output included works of social commentary, politics, history, popular science, satire, biography, and autobiography. Wells' science fiction novels are so well regarded that he has been called the "father of science fiction".