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The Wealth of Mr. Waddy
The discovery of a “lost” manuscript by H. G. Wells is an exciting literary event, and the publishers of the Crosscurrents Modern Fiction series are proud to present the first publication of Wells’s The Wealth of Mr. Waddy.
A study of H. G. Wells’s correspondence reveals that as early as October 1898 he was discussing this new “comic” novel, and that he continued work on the manuscript into March 1899. Then after more than a year’s silence about it in the existing correspondence, he says (April 23, 1900), “Just at present Kipps turns out well,” and from there on he refers only to Kipps. In the Preface written in 1925 for the Atlantic Edition of his works, Wells recalls, “Kipps was written in 1903-4. It is only a fragment of a much larger and more ambitious design. The original title was The Wealth of Mr. Waddy.… it was put aside, and I’m afraid destroyed.” Fortunately Mr. Wells was mistaken, for the discarded materials of the original manuscript are in the H. G. Wells Archive at the University of Illinois, where Professor Harris Wilson, the textual editor of this edition, found them.
Although the well-loved Kipps evolved from this larger work there are startling differences in the development of the characters that appear in both books, making Mr. Waddy a story worthy of being read and enjoyed on its own merits. And with this novel Harris Wilson, Professor of English at the University of Illinois, has made an important contribution to the Wells revival. In his Introduction he makes a critical examination of the manuscript and discusses its history; his Note on the Text is followed by a detailed description of the manuscript materials from which each chapter was given its final form, and a list of the emendations.
A study of H. G. Wells’s correspondence reveals that as early as October 1898 he was discussing this new “comic” novel, and that he continued work on the manuscript into March 1899. Then after more than a year’s silence about it in the existing correspondence, he says (April 23, 1900), “Just at present Kipps turns out well,” and from there on he refers only to Kipps. In the Preface written in 1925 for the Atlantic Edition of his works, Wells recalls, “Kipps was written in 1903-4. It is only a fragment of a much larger and more ambitious design. The original title was The Wealth of Mr. Waddy.… it was put aside, and I’m afraid destroyed.” Fortunately Mr. Wells was mistaken, for the discarded materials of the original manuscript are in the H. G. Wells Archive at the University of Illinois, where Professor Harris Wilson, the textual editor of this edition, found them.
Although the well-loved Kipps evolved from this larger work there are startling differences in the development of the characters that appear in both books, making Mr. Waddy a story worthy of being read and enjoyed on its own merits. And with this novel Harris Wilson, Professor of English at the University of Illinois, has made an important contribution to the Wells revival. In his Introduction he makes a critical examination of the manuscript and discusses its history; his Note on the Text is followed by a detailed description of the manuscript materials from which each chapter was given its final form, and a list of the emendations.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 1969
1 person is currently reading
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About the author
H.G. Wells
5,365 books11.1k 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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