# Last and First Men — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon.

- [Last and First Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/last-and-first-men.md): The opening chapter of 'Last and First Men' introduces the grand scope of the narrative, which spans the entire future history of humanity. It sets the stage for a story that will cover the rise and fall of many distinct
- [I: Balkan Europe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/i-balkan-europe.md): The chapter opens with the Last Men observing the First Men's epoch, focusing on the European War and its aftermath. It discusses the ideals of Socrates and Jesus, the failure of these ideals, the rise of tribalism, and 
- [The European War and After](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/i-the-european-war-and-after.md): The chapter reflects on the European War as seen from the distant future of the Last Men, portraying it as a pivotal moment in the early history of the First Men. It discusses the ideals of Socrates and Jesus, the confli
- [II: The Anglo-French War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/ii-the-anglo-french-war.md): This chapter describes a brief but tragic conflict between England and France that occurs within a century after the European War. England, in a moment of cosmopolitan idealism, sends a peace message to France, but an ac
- [III: Europe After the Anglo-French War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iii-europe-after-the-anglo-french-war.md): This chapter examines the subtle but profound shift in the global mental climate following the Anglo-French War. It argues that while the war seemed a petty disturbance to outsiders, it irreparably damaged the cultural a

> 69 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=last_and_first_men_se_1051kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest.

- [IV: The Russo-German War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iv-the-russo-german-war.md)
- [II: Europe's Downfall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/ii-europe-s-downfall.md)
- [I: Europe and America](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/i-europe-and-america.md)
- [II: The Origins of a Mystery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/ii-the-origins-of-a-mystery.md)
- [III: Europe Murdered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iii-europe-murdered.md)
- [America and China](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iii-america-and-china.md)
- [The Rivals](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/i-the-rivals.md)
- [The Conflict](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/ii-the-conflict.md)
- [On an Island in the Pacific](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iii-on-an-island-in-the-pacific.md)
- [IV: An Americanized Planet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iv-an-americanized-planet.md)
- [I: The Foundation of the First World State](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/i-the-foundation-of-the-first-world-state.md)
- [II: The Dominance of Science](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/ii-the-dominance-of-science.md)
- [III: Material Achievement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iii-material-achievement.md)
- [IV: The Culture of the First World State](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iv-the-culture-of-the-first-world-state.md)
- [V: Downfall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/v-downfall.md)
- [V: The Fall of the First Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/v-the-fall-of-the-first-men.md)
- [I: The First Dark Age](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/i-the-first-dark-age.md)
- [II: The Rise of Patagonia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/ii-the-rise-of-patagonia.md)
- [III: The Cult of Youth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iii-the-cult-of-youth.md)
- [IV: The Catastrophe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iv-the-catastrophe.md)
- [VI: Transition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/vi-transition.md)
- [I: The First Men at Bay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/i-the-first-men-at-bay.md)
- [II: The Second Dark Age](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/ii-the-second-dark-age.md)
- [VII: The Rise of the Second Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/vii-the-rise-of-the-second-men.md)
- [I: The Appearance of a New Species](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/i-the-appearance-of-a-new-species.md)
- [II: The Intercourse of Three Species](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/ii-the-intercourse-of-three-species.md)
- [III: The Zenith of the Second Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iii-the-zenith-of-the-second-men.md)
- [VIII: The Martians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/viii-the-martians.md)
- [I: The First Martian Invasion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/i-the-first-martian-invasion.md)
- [Life on Mars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/ii-life-on-mars.md)
- [III: The Martian Mind](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iii-the-martian-mind.md)
- [Delusions of the Martians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iv-delusions-of-the-martians.md)
- [Earth and Mars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/ix-earth-and-mars.md)
- [I: The Second Men at Bay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/i-the-second-men-at-bay.md)
- [II: The Ruin of Two Worlds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/ii-the-ruin-of-two-worlds.md)
- [III: The Third Dark Age](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iii-the-third-dark-age.md)
- [X: The Third Men in the Wilderness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/x-the-third-men-in-the-wilderness.md)
- [I: The Third Human Species](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/i-the-third-human-species.md)
- [II: Digressions of the Third Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/ii-digressions-of-the-third-men.md)
- [III: The Vital Art](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iii-the-vital-art.md)
- [IV: Conflicting Policies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iv-conflicting-policies.md)
- [Man Remakes Himself](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/xi-man-remakes-himself.md)
- [I: The First of the Great Brains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/i-the-first-of-the-great-brains.md)
- [II: The Tragedy of the Fourth Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/ii-the-tragedy-of-the-fourth-men.md)
- [III: The Fifth Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iii-the-fifth-men.md)
- [IV: The Culture of the Fifth Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iv-the-culture-of-the-fifth-men.md)
- [The Last Terrestrials](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/xii-the-last-terrestrials.md)
- [I: The Cult of Evanescence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/i-the-cult-of-evanescence.md)
- [Exploration of Time](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/ii-exploration-of-time.md)
- [III: Voyaging in Space](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iii-voyaging-in-space.md)
- [IV: Preparing a New World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iv-preparing-a-new-world.md)
- [Humanity on Venus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/xiii-humanity-on-venus.md)
- [I: Taking Root Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/i-taking-root-again.md)
- [II: The Flying Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/ii-the-flying-men.md)
- [III: A Minor Astronomical Event](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iii-a-minor-astronomical-event.md)
- [XIV: Neptune](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/xiv-neptune.md)
- [I: Bird’s-Eye View](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/i-bird-s-eye-view.md)
- [II: Da Capo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/ii-da-capo.md)
- [III: Slow Conquest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iii-slow-conquest.md)
- [XV: The Last Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/xv-the-last-men.md)
- [Introduction to the Last Human Species](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/i-introduction-to-the-last-human-species.md)
- [II: Childhood and Maturity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/ii-childhood-and-maturity.md)
- [III: A Racial Awakening](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iii-a-racial-awakening.md)
- [IV: Cosmology](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iv-cosmology.md)
- [XVI: The Last of Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/xvi-the-last-of-man.md)
- [I: Sentence of Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/i-sentence-of-death.md)
- [II: Behaviour of the Condemned](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/ii-behaviour-of-the-condemned.md)
- [III: Epilogue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iii-epilogue.md)
- [List of Illustrations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/list-of-illustrations.md)

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters