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H. G. Wells in Love: postscript to an experiment in autobiography
'I was never a great amorist, ' wrote H. G. Wells in his Experiment in Autobiography in 1934, 'though I have loved several people very deeply.'H. G. Wells composed his most candid volume of autobiography, H. G. Wells in Love, secretly, knowing it would never be published in his own lifetime. It is a great writer's true confession of the loves of his life, beginning in the 1930s when Wells was at the summit of fame having published The Invisible Man, Kipps, and The War of the Worlds. Though he had already written his published autobiography (the two volumes of Experiment in Autobiography are also available as Faber Finds), he saved his most private reflections for this, detailing his engagement in a series of romantic affairs, including his famous liason with feminist author Rebecca West, twenty-six years his junior, and his second wife, Amy Catherine Robbins.This volume completes and complements the published volumes and offers a unique insight into the life of one of the best-loved of British writers.
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
1 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1934
67 people want to read
About the author
H.G. Wells
5,307 books11.2k followersHerbert George Wells was born to a working class family in Kent, England. Young Wells received a spotty education, interrupted by several illnesses and family difficulties, and became a draper's apprentice as a teenager. The headmaster of Midhurst Grammar School, where he had spent a year, arranged for him to return as an "usher," or student teacher. Wells earned a government scholarship in 1884, to study biology under Thomas Henry Huxley at the Normal School of Science. Wells earned his bachelor of science and doctor of science degrees at the University of London. After marrying his cousin, Isabel, Wells began to supplement his teaching salary with short stories and freelance articles, then books, including The Time Machine (1895), The Island of Dr. Moreau (1896), The Invisible Man (1897), and The War of the Worlds (1898).
Wells created a mild scandal when he divorced his cousin to marry one of his best students, Amy Catherine Robbins. Although his second marriage was lasting and produced two sons, Wells was an unabashed advocate of free (as opposed to "indiscriminate") love. He continued to openly have extra-marital liaisons, most famously with Margaret Sanger, and a ten-year relationship with the author Rebecca West, who had one of his two out-of-wedlock children. A one-time member of the Fabian Society, Wells sought active change. His 100 books included many novels, as well as nonfiction, such as A Modern Utopia (1905), The Outline of History (1920), A Short History of the World (1922), The Shape of Things to Come (1933), and The Work, Wealth and Happiness of Mankind (1932). One of his booklets was Crux Ansata, An Indictment of the Roman Catholic Church. Although Wells toyed briefly with the idea of a "divine will" in his book, God the Invisible King (1917), it was a temporary aberration. Wells used his international fame to promote his favorite causes, including the prevention of war, and was received by government officials around the world. He is best-remembered as an early writer of science fiction and futurism.
He was also an outspoken socialist. Wells and Jules Verne are each sometimes referred to as "The Fathers of Science Fiction". D. 1946.
More: http://philosopedia.org/index.php/H._...
http://www.online-literature.com/well...
http://www.hgwellsusa.50megs.com/
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/t...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._G._Wells
Wells created a mild scandal when he divorced his cousin to marry one of his best students, Amy Catherine Robbins. Although his second marriage was lasting and produced two sons, Wells was an unabashed advocate of free (as opposed to "indiscriminate") love. He continued to openly have extra-marital liaisons, most famously with Margaret Sanger, and a ten-year relationship with the author Rebecca West, who had one of his two out-of-wedlock children. A one-time member of the Fabian Society, Wells sought active change. His 100 books included many novels, as well as nonfiction, such as A Modern Utopia (1905), The Outline of History (1920), A Short History of the World (1922), The Shape of Things to Come (1933), and The Work, Wealth and Happiness of Mankind (1932). One of his booklets was Crux Ansata, An Indictment of the Roman Catholic Church. Although Wells toyed briefly with the idea of a "divine will" in his book, God the Invisible King (1917), it was a temporary aberration. Wells used his international fame to promote his favorite causes, including the prevention of war, and was received by government officials around the world. He is best-remembered as an early writer of science fiction and futurism.
He was also an outspoken socialist. Wells and Jules Verne are each sometimes referred to as "The Fathers of Science Fiction". D. 1946.
More: http://philosopedia.org/index.php/H._...
http://www.online-literature.com/well...
http://www.hgwellsusa.50megs.com/
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/t...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._G._Wells
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 21, 2017
For most of his adult life , H. G. Wells both preached and practiced a version of free love. Either because of his fame, associations with socialist causes, personal charms or openness toward like minded women, he would experience a varied sex life.
Most of us know H. G. Wells as a writer of science fiction. War of the Worlds and Time Machine alone would have preserved his standing as a writer. His more ardent fans know of him as a novelist with something on the order of 50 titles. His non fiction book list counts another 50 plus titles plus many short stories and direct involvement in at least 4 movies.
Some would argue that his History of the Wold alone is sufficient to insure a literary legacy. Few know he also wrote a biology text book.
This book, H. G. Wells in Love: Postscript to An Experiment in Autobiography, was written , or collected from several sources among his papers. As per his instructions , it was published 50 years after the authors death. Wells had previously published his Experiment in Biography relating the more conventional aspects of his life, but he felt the need to make public his version of his more intimate life. By waiting 50 years his intent was to insure that none of the women in his life would be adversely effected by making public their private relationships. It is very possible he discounted or ignored possible costs to his children, either those from his two marriages or his lovers.
Part of what got me interested in this book is the new David Lodge book: A Man of Parts.A Man of Parts This is a fictionalized version of Well's final days and draws heavily from this book. I will review it separately so no more about it here.
If H G Wells was one of the first to openly espouse free love. He should not be considered an early producer of the tell all tittle tattle book. It is true that names names and provides what his era would consider intimate details. He is never explicitly sexual or seeking to be sensational. Instead he shares with us an examination of several conflicting parts of his emotional/philosophical make up.
The one consistent thread woven into these pages is that of the "shadow-lover". I can only grasp the general idea, and I suspect he never fully realized what he meant . To Wells, the Shadow Lover was whatever image he , or any man may carry that best represents his understanding of and need for physical combined with spiritual love at that time of that man's (Wells')life. While this definition can vary over time, it has to have some degree of stability. As this image varies the man should be free to apply the evolved <?> image to whoever best seems to embody this image.
Wells had no problem with the idea of concurrent brief sexual meetings. He was sincere in his belief that the act of sex is an animal appetite. No more complex than the need for food or physical exercise. Between consenting adults it is a matter of personal refreshment and perhaps mutual appreciation or momentary affection. None of this was to be confused with the concept of the shadow lover. Passing amours were to have no meaning to or adverse effect on the shadow lover/man relationship.
He admits to and never fully reconciles the fact that, he could be jealous of and feel exclusively possessive towards his various shadow lovers. His second wife died young. It fell to him to clear her accounts, and they included a small separate apartment. That she had one, to us means that she must have had lovers. As he would maintain a series of separate apartments and houses both for the maintenance of lady loves and for quiet places to work would mean that he would have to accept her as having had her shadow lovers. Wells admits that his jealously over what may have been, made him inconsistent in his beliefs. Ultimately he denies that she may have had an independent sex life. Later scholars have concluded that she was exclusively faithful. Most of his love affairs were known to her. She would advise him about candidate lovers, correspond with them and other wise assist in the execution of his love affairs. Yet he would have jealously and possessiveness issue with these women.
Wells did seem to attract a variety of young women. In our age that would suggest that he was a predator, using his money, position and power to take advantage of younger weaker women. We cannot ignore this as a possible if unacknowledged part of his success with women. At least one of his shadow lovers - Odette Keun could be recast as a victim of his personality. She seemed more of a person who was seeking victim status. Another of his shadow lovers may have been a soviet spy- Baroness Moura Budberg -who was using him as much as he her. Yet she also seems to be a woman who loved him after her fashion. She ultimately dictated the terms of their love. She would reject his offers to marry and make him accept her need to be independent. Rebecca West came to him as she was just becoming a woman and a writer. Theirs was a young woman much older man affair of the type we may despise. Yet she is such a strong woman and would become an important writer. Our modern inferences seem too cynical to be complete.
I am glad I read this book. I am not sure I buy everything that Wells is proposing. I am not sure that he either accepts all of his own arguments or was satisfied that he presented a comprehensive argument. This is a book you can read without fear he will offend your sensibilities or present you with unseemly images. Name names he does, but there is very little of anatomy or body fluids. This book completes his biography, but how much of this completion is in the form of light or added confusion is for you to decide.
Most of us know H. G. Wells as a writer of science fiction. War of the Worlds and Time Machine alone would have preserved his standing as a writer. His more ardent fans know of him as a novelist with something on the order of 50 titles. His non fiction book list counts another 50 plus titles plus many short stories and direct involvement in at least 4 movies.
Some would argue that his History of the Wold alone is sufficient to insure a literary legacy. Few know he also wrote a biology text book.
This book, H. G. Wells in Love: Postscript to An Experiment in Autobiography, was written , or collected from several sources among his papers. As per his instructions , it was published 50 years after the authors death. Wells had previously published his Experiment in Biography relating the more conventional aspects of his life, but he felt the need to make public his version of his more intimate life. By waiting 50 years his intent was to insure that none of the women in his life would be adversely effected by making public their private relationships. It is very possible he discounted or ignored possible costs to his children, either those from his two marriages or his lovers.
Part of what got me interested in this book is the new David Lodge book: A Man of Parts.A Man of Parts This is a fictionalized version of Well's final days and draws heavily from this book. I will review it separately so no more about it here.
If H G Wells was one of the first to openly espouse free love. He should not be considered an early producer of the tell all tittle tattle book. It is true that names names and provides what his era would consider intimate details. He is never explicitly sexual or seeking to be sensational. Instead he shares with us an examination of several conflicting parts of his emotional/philosophical make up.
The one consistent thread woven into these pages is that of the "shadow-lover". I can only grasp the general idea, and I suspect he never fully realized what he meant . To Wells, the Shadow Lover was whatever image he , or any man may carry that best represents his understanding of and need for physical combined with spiritual love at that time of that man's (Wells')life. While this definition can vary over time, it has to have some degree of stability. As this image varies the man should be free to apply the evolved <?> image to whoever best seems to embody this image.
Wells had no problem with the idea of concurrent brief sexual meetings. He was sincere in his belief that the act of sex is an animal appetite. No more complex than the need for food or physical exercise. Between consenting adults it is a matter of personal refreshment and perhaps mutual appreciation or momentary affection. None of this was to be confused with the concept of the shadow lover. Passing amours were to have no meaning to or adverse effect on the shadow lover/man relationship.
He admits to and never fully reconciles the fact that, he could be jealous of and feel exclusively possessive towards his various shadow lovers. His second wife died young. It fell to him to clear her accounts, and they included a small separate apartment. That she had one, to us means that she must have had lovers. As he would maintain a series of separate apartments and houses both for the maintenance of lady loves and for quiet places to work would mean that he would have to accept her as having had her shadow lovers. Wells admits that his jealously over what may have been, made him inconsistent in his beliefs. Ultimately he denies that she may have had an independent sex life. Later scholars have concluded that she was exclusively faithful. Most of his love affairs were known to her. She would advise him about candidate lovers, correspond with them and other wise assist in the execution of his love affairs. Yet he would have jealously and possessiveness issue with these women.
Wells did seem to attract a variety of young women. In our age that would suggest that he was a predator, using his money, position and power to take advantage of younger weaker women. We cannot ignore this as a possible if unacknowledged part of his success with women. At least one of his shadow lovers - Odette Keun could be recast as a victim of his personality. She seemed more of a person who was seeking victim status. Another of his shadow lovers may have been a soviet spy- Baroness Moura Budberg -who was using him as much as he her. Yet she also seems to be a woman who loved him after her fashion. She ultimately dictated the terms of their love. She would reject his offers to marry and make him accept her need to be independent. Rebecca West came to him as she was just becoming a woman and a writer. Theirs was a young woman much older man affair of the type we may despise. Yet she is such a strong woman and would become an important writer. Our modern inferences seem too cynical to be complete.
I am glad I read this book. I am not sure I buy everything that Wells is proposing. I am not sure that he either accepts all of his own arguments or was satisfied that he presented a comprehensive argument. This is a book you can read without fear he will offend your sensibilities or present you with unseemly images. Name names he does, but there is very little of anatomy or body fluids. This book completes his biography, but how much of this completion is in the form of light or added confusion is for you to decide.
April 5, 2013
Dude was a PLAY-UH of major proportions.
Seriously, I liked this very much and was actually quite moved by parts of it. Wells wrote it as an addenda to his memoir Experiment in Autobiography which was missing parts of his sentimental and sexual life, in some instances for obvious reasons.
The writing is thoughtful, sometimes funny, and very very honest. He is self-indulgent and foolish at times, but he doesn't try to mask it.
He was friends with Freud, apparently, after Freud moved to London and that's a relationship I wish I knew more about!
Seriously, I liked this very much and was actually quite moved by parts of it. Wells wrote it as an addenda to his memoir Experiment in Autobiography which was missing parts of his sentimental and sexual life, in some instances for obvious reasons.
The writing is thoughtful, sometimes funny, and very very honest. He is self-indulgent and foolish at times, but he doesn't try to mask it.
He was friends with Freud, apparently, after Freud moved to London and that's a relationship I wish I knew more about!
March 8, 2013
H.G. Wells was a wonderful writer...BUT...the man was also quite a freaky-deek! LOL. Man! If you want to read some juicy romances, read "H.G.Wells in love." The man was VERY ahead of his "time." A in-depth look at a literary legend.
August 14, 2015
I was on the fence about giving this book two or three stars, It was getting a little bit repetitious ,and i wish he would have gotten more into depth about his feelings,and how his wife felt about all his affairs.I will definitely read his autobiography to learn more about him.
April 25, 2012
This is pretty rad because it descibes H.G. Wells' proper British affairs.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews