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The Soul of a Bishop
"What is really the matter here-the matter with you that is-is a disorganization of your tests of reality..... [E]very living being lives in a state not differing essentially from a state of hallucination concerning the things about it. Truth, essential truth, is hidden. Always. Of course, there must be a measure of truth in our working illusions, a working measure of truth, or the creature would smash itself up and end itself, but beyond that discretion of the first and the pitfall lies a wide margin of error about which we may be deceived for years." -from "The First Vision" He is known, along with Jules Verne, as one of the 19th-century fathers of logical, rational science fiction, but in this 1917 novel, H. G. Wells weaves a more intuitive tale, about a bishop haunted by strange dreams and visions that challenge his faith. Lyrical, poetic, and verging on stream-of-consciousness in places, this little-read work of one of the most enduringly popular writers of modern literature is like found treasure, offering a captivating and unexpected insight into Wells' psyche. British author HERBERT GEORGE WELLS (1866-1946) is best known for his groundbreaking science fiction novels The Time Machine (1895), The Invisible Man (1897), and The War of the Worlds (1898).
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1917
About the author
H.G. Wells
5,925 books11.5k 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 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 10, 2024
4.0/5: a solid theological universalist tract and a few good stories
This is admittedly a rare one. I can tell because nobody bought it at the used bookstore, it was $2.50, it smelled perfectly mustily old, and it only has 49 ratings on this website. My copy also came with three short stories attached, all of them unrelated to each other and from the main novel. It's pretty dang good, though.
Wells switches off from the sci-fi and switches onto theology, particularly the state of usefulness (or the opposite) of church creeds and leadership. It's a fully good argument for universalism and skepticism of everything religious with the exception of God themselves. The narrative flows incredibly, sometimes too, slowly, with a main protagonist who feels realistic in the sense that he's moderately boring. But the statements about everything related to globalism, extremism, empathy of enemies, and the idea of a convert being more knowledgeable than an Anglican-at-birth are pretty damn fascinating subject. That gets about 3.5 stars.
The last 50 pages are a wide variety of short stories: one anthropological, one an epic morality play, and one techno-futuristic. The last was solid, the 2nd was legit good albeit short. The first was probably my favorite. The playing with the "one eyed man is king" proverb with a clever twist and statements on beauty and being an "outsider" are fantastic, as is the almost fantasy environment the main character ends up in. I'd love to see a full NatGeo-esque story about that blind country. So short stories are a 4.5.
This is admittedly a rare one. I can tell because nobody bought it at the used bookstore, it was $2.50, it smelled perfectly mustily old, and it only has 49 ratings on this website. My copy also came with three short stories attached, all of them unrelated to each other and from the main novel. It's pretty dang good, though.
Wells switches off from the sci-fi and switches onto theology, particularly the state of usefulness (or the opposite) of church creeds and leadership. It's a fully good argument for universalism and skepticism of everything religious with the exception of God themselves. The narrative flows incredibly, sometimes too, slowly, with a main protagonist who feels realistic in the sense that he's moderately boring. But the statements about everything related to globalism, extremism, empathy of enemies, and the idea of a convert being more knowledgeable than an Anglican-at-birth are pretty damn fascinating subject. That gets about 3.5 stars.
The last 50 pages are a wide variety of short stories: one anthropological, one an epic morality play, and one techno-futuristic. The last was solid, the 2nd was legit good albeit short. The first was probably my favorite. The playing with the "one eyed man is king" proverb with a clever twist and statements on beauty and being an "outsider" are fantastic, as is the almost fantasy environment the main character ends up in. I'd love to see a full NatGeo-esque story about that blind country. So short stories are a 4.5.
April 28, 2025
https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/the-soul-of-a-bishop-by-h-g-wells/
This 1917 novel concerns the Reverend Edward Scrope, Bishop of Princhester, whose faith is challenged by its irrelevance to the people of his industrialised diocese and by the horrors of war. Scrope deals with this difficulty by falling under the influence of an attractive and rich parishioner, and taking mind-altering drugs. He resigns from the Church completely, goes through further spiritual wrestling and finds his own accommodation at the end, though one feels that his wife is unenthused by the new state of affairs, never mind their five daughters.
One of the few unexpected things I learned about the English way of life when I went to study at Cambridge aged 19 is that there are a lot of people, if a minority, who take the Church of England seriously, something that was not apparent from the popular culture that I had absorbed growing up in Belfast. Wells isn’t quite sure how funny he should be here. He finds the Church itself ridiculous, but wants to make us sympathise with the bishop’s spiritual torment (which is expressed at length). The story ends up falling between two stools, and has been justifiably forgotten over the last 108 years.
This 1917 novel concerns the Reverend Edward Scrope, Bishop of Princhester, whose faith is challenged by its irrelevance to the people of his industrialised diocese and by the horrors of war. Scrope deals with this difficulty by falling under the influence of an attractive and rich parishioner, and taking mind-altering drugs. He resigns from the Church completely, goes through further spiritual wrestling and finds his own accommodation at the end, though one feels that his wife is unenthused by the new state of affairs, never mind their five daughters.
One of the few unexpected things I learned about the English way of life when I went to study at Cambridge aged 19 is that there are a lot of people, if a minority, who take the Church of England seriously, something that was not apparent from the popular culture that I had absorbed growing up in Belfast. Wells isn’t quite sure how funny he should be here. He finds the Church itself ridiculous, but wants to make us sympathise with the bishop’s spiritual torment (which is expressed at length). The story ends up falling between two stools, and has been justifiably forgotten over the last 108 years.
July 18, 2020
I didn’t know much about HG Wells’ non science fiction works. Apparently he was broad in his output across genres. His storytelling holds strong in this current events (for his time) social and spiritual commentary in “The Soul of a Bishop”.
“It was no longer a riddle that little immediate things should seem of more importance than great and final things. For man is a creature thrusting his way up from the beast to divinity, from the blindness of individuality to the knowledge of the common end. “
“We stand deep in the engagements of our individual lives looking up to God, and only realizing in our moments of exaltation that through God we can escape from the rule and alter the whole world-wide scheme of individual lives. “
“Only in phases of illumination do we realize the creative powers that lie ready to man’s hand.”
“The last act of faith is to trust those we love to God...”
“That is what I want to make clear to you. God is not a specialty; he is a universal interest”
“It was no longer a riddle that little immediate things should seem of more importance than great and final things. For man is a creature thrusting his way up from the beast to divinity, from the blindness of individuality to the knowledge of the common end. “
“We stand deep in the engagements of our individual lives looking up to God, and only realizing in our moments of exaltation that through God we can escape from the rule and alter the whole world-wide scheme of individual lives. “
“Only in phases of illumination do we realize the creative powers that lie ready to man’s hand.”
“The last act of faith is to trust those we love to God...”
“That is what I want to make clear to you. God is not a specialty; he is a universal interest”
July 9, 2019
Although many of Wells’ usual themes in this book, this time round, he found the right balance and tackled them well.
Like with other similar works, he tackled the theme of Socialusm. Yes, he briefly raised Fabianism, a love of his. In this story, it focused on religion, specifically a Priest, a Bishop, who began to question his religious callings. As time goes on, he tries to understand his belief and with th3 world around him.
There is also a subtle undertone/ sub text of addiction here. Both addiction and branches of socialusm do not overly mix with religion and religious beliefs.
Overall, this story works really well and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Like with other similar works, he tackled the theme of Socialusm. Yes, he briefly raised Fabianism, a love of his. In this story, it focused on religion, specifically a Priest, a Bishop, who began to question his religious callings. As time goes on, he tries to understand his belief and with th3 world around him.
There is also a subtle undertone/ sub text of addiction here. Both addiction and branches of socialusm do not overly mix with religion and religious beliefs.
Overall, this story works really well and thoroughly enjoyed it.
July 19, 2026
2.2/5 As a teen I thought this tale was just ok. First published in 1917. novel, this is an intriguing and poetic tale, about a bishop haunted by strange dreams and visions that challenge his faith.
June 10, 2020
Non è cosa, è proprio un libro brutto, spiace dirlo.
È la prova che anche i grandi autori alle volte prendono qualche cantonata!
È la prova che anche i grandi autori alle volte prendono qualche cantonata!
January 12, 2020
A book about personal conflict. The protagonist, Bishop Edward Scrope, is conflicted over his faith and his views on the doctrinal practices of the Church. One of the ways in which Wells explores this is by allowing the reader to see the character of Lady Sunderbund, through Scrope's eyes. To him, Sunderbund is very much the modern woman; her tastes in art and furnishings are extremely contemporary, as is her style and choice of dress. However, Scrope's view of her is somewhat contradictory in that he also sees her as a renaissance-like beauty. On a number of occasions, he perceives Sunderbund as being akin to figures from paintings by Botticelli. This analogy has the effect of externalising Scrope's internal disharmony by opening out his feelings of discord from being an inner, emotional and intellectual struggle, to being extended into the physical world.
Scrope's initial attraction to Sunderbund may be seen as an attraction to modernity, and a desire to shed and reject the old, though his view of her as a Botticellian figure never quite allows him fully to embrace his initial impulse; possibly an allusion to the story's conclusion in which Scrope, ultimately, maintains his faith though not in its former incarnation as framed against the dogma of the Church. Sunderbund is simultaneously the renaissance beauty and the modern woman, a parallel to Scrope's faith in God, being at once essentially unchanged and yet contrasted starkly with the Church's creed.
These juxtaposed perspectives add a certain depth to the narrative, acting as a drop-shadow beneath the conflict and confusion Scrope battles to overcome, bringing to the surface a subtle colour and light, thereby embellishing the reader’s understanding of Scrope’s experiences.
Scrope's initial attraction to Sunderbund may be seen as an attraction to modernity, and a desire to shed and reject the old, though his view of her as a Botticellian figure never quite allows him fully to embrace his initial impulse; possibly an allusion to the story's conclusion in which Scrope, ultimately, maintains his faith though not in its former incarnation as framed against the dogma of the Church. Sunderbund is simultaneously the renaissance beauty and the modern woman, a parallel to Scrope's faith in God, being at once essentially unchanged and yet contrasted starkly with the Church's creed.
These juxtaposed perspectives add a certain depth to the narrative, acting as a drop-shadow beneath the conflict and confusion Scrope battles to overcome, bringing to the surface a subtle colour and light, thereby embellishing the reader’s understanding of Scrope’s experiences.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2013
Not your average H.G.Wells. Mystical and religious, with some fairly heavy-duty theology. It certainly had its moments, but though I felt it was worth reading to the end, it was tough going. Sort of recommended.
August 25, 2013
This may be my favorite Wells. Why do we believe what we believe? what is the difference between doga, creed and belief and how do they intersect - or interfere with the search for the divine? When does religion support us and when does it fail us?
May 12, 2008
Wells discovers God (with a capital G!) in the middle of war.
Read
January 10, 2014Masterpiece.
December 28, 2017
When I first started to read this book I was a little apprehensive on whether it will be a hard read or one that will be unputdownable.
I was surprised as it was a very interesting book. Yes, it looks at religion through the eyes of the
Orthodox church with the Bishop being the main character who has lost his way.
It was only at the last chapter that I began to feel. like other of Wells's books, that this subject became opinionated almost lecture - like toward the reader.
The book would have been improved without this and I was somewhat relieved when the main character and his family was brought back in to resume the story until the end.
Another irritating thing was that Lady Sunderbund was an American who did not prounce her "R"s and the text was written as such - supposedly to demonstrate an accent.
Well, it was so annoying as I kept getting the voice of Jerry Hall's Texan drawl in my head.
Bloody awful!
Besides these few gripes, I did enjoy the book, although not unputdownable, it was definitely interesting enough to want to read the next day.
My quest is to read my way through a number of H G Wells' novels to appeciate the finer works now locked in the archives.
I was surprised as it was a very interesting book. Yes, it looks at religion through the eyes of the
Orthodox church with the Bishop being the main character who has lost his way.
It was only at the last chapter that I began to feel. like other of Wells's books, that this subject became opinionated almost lecture - like toward the reader.
The book would have been improved without this and I was somewhat relieved when the main character and his family was brought back in to resume the story until the end.
Another irritating thing was that Lady Sunderbund was an American who did not prounce her "R"s and the text was written as such - supposedly to demonstrate an accent.
Well, it was so annoying as I kept getting the voice of Jerry Hall's Texan drawl in my head.
Bloody awful!
Besides these few gripes, I did enjoy the book, although not unputdownable, it was definitely interesting enough to want to read the next day.
My quest is to read my way through a number of H G Wells' novels to appeciate the finer works now locked in the archives.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews