Floor Games

by H.G. Wells, Barbara A. Turner (Editor)

The delightful story of creative play with miniature figures and magical worlds on the nursery floor is brought back to life in this reprint of a historical work. Written for his sons in 1911, Wells's story immerses the reader in a tale where possibilities are the given and surprises the fact. It has since been used as a teaching tool for psychotherapists the world over to understand children's methods of thinking and is instrumental in the work of sandplay therapists. An insightful introduction discusses the history of play in Wells's prolific creative life and his role in the development of sandplay therapy.

Genres: Nonfiction, Classics, Games

110 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1911

About the author

Herbert 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

Reviews

[Elizabeth Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Wells at his most playful, literally. Wells outlines the games he plays with his two sons and the equipment they use. He describes building islands and cities on the floor in their home. The cities are populated by toy soldiers and any other figures they could find. He bemoans the lack of civilian figures more than once. He also describes the lucky inheritance of a large number of custom made blocks. He would have loved Lego(tm).

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, little discourse by H.G. Wells on creative play with his kids on the floor mostly focusing on world-building using wood blocks, boards, toy people, trains and miscellaneous stuff.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book for kids explaining the kinds of things probably already know (it has been too long since I was a kid, but I have some memories of doing similar things with blocks, Lego, and Lincoln Logs). It usefully lists the sizes of the wooden blocks and planks he and his kids used. He also explained what roofs were made of and how they were stored.

This book was written in 1911 by a British author, so there is some casual imperialism and a few racist descriptions. Discuss it with your children either while you read it to them or after they finish reading the book.

[Lettice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intensely entertaining little book which captures the very firm thoughts HG Wells had about rhe best ways to play games on the floor, armed with imagination, toy soldiers and lots of household objects like books and boxes.

[Yex · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty interesting treatise on the art of playing with toys; however, a fairly sizable amount of Edwardian-era casual racism puts a damper on the fun.

[Roland Volz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Often called a "companion book" to his work on wargaming called Little Wars even though it was written first, Floor Games is about the practice of creating imaginary worlds out of figurines, blocks, and whatever else might be lying around -- a skill possessed by almost every child, though most fall out of practice as they get older. Here Wells, writing before the invention of Legos and action figures, decries the limited selection of toys available in his time, making recommendations to manufacturers that would not be followed for decades. Illustrated by photographs Wells took in his home, this is a heartwarming glimpse of a loving father at play with his sons.

[Patti Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not much to be gained in this very short "book". I did like the philosophy of the open floor for children to play on, but then Wells starts to sound too British, criticizing toy store toys as too rigid, while at the same time specifing exactly what a child should take away from playing with bricks and boards. He starts to sound tedious and unimaginative; and quite frankly, I could have more fun with an etch-a-sketch.

[Tom Loock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in a very casual, colloquial style. Makes me wonder what the book would read like if Wells had written it today. His promotion of free-form gaming is still valid 115 years later. Reminds me of the (very similar) games I invented for and with my friends when I was in my early teens.

[Anna Pervukhin Sammons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. But skip the legacy part.

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

After you read Little Wars, you have to read this one.

[Lia Noelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

idk why I even read this it's not like I have kids or want to have kids ever