Sur la pierre blanche

by Anatole France

"Sur la pierre blanche" by Anatole France is a philosophical novel published in 1905. Set among ancient Roman ruins, five French friends engage in dialogues about humanity's evolution, racism, colonialism, and the limits of predicting the future. The work weaves together historical episodes—including a reimagined encounter between a Roman proconsul and the Apostle Paul—with a utopian vision of 2270, where a global federation has abolished inequality and private ownership of production.