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The History of Mr. Polly
Mr Polly is an ordinary middle-aged man who is tired of his wife's nagging and his dreary job as the owner of a regional gentleman's outfitters. Faced with the threat of bankruptcy, he concludes that the only way to escape his frustrating existence is by burning his shop to the ground, and killing himself. Unexpected events, however, conspire at the last moment to lead the bewildered Mr Polly to a bright new future - after he saves a life, fakes his death, and escapes to a life of heroism, hope and ultimate happiness.
227 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1910
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About the author
H.G. Wells
5,316 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 259 reviews
July 14, 2016
Welcome to Alfred Polly's mid-existence crisis. That's where we meet him, then we backtrack from his infancy through his life up to what might just be a fresh-starting point...
"...filled him with a vague and mystical happiness that he had no words, even mispronounceable words, to express." (location 486) And this gentleman has a way with words, all right!
"Time had removed the hair from the top of his head and distributed a small dividend to the plunder in little bunches carelessly and impartially over the rest of his features..." (location 684)
"'I've seen a mort of undertakers.'" (location 761)
"Mr. Polly, dear heart! firmly believed that things like that could and did happen--somewhere." (location 883)
"she cooked because food had to be cooked and with a sound moralist's entire disregard of the quality of the consequences. The food came from her hands done rather than improved, and looking as uncomfortable as savages clothed under duress by the missionary with a stock of out-sizes." ("strong meat there" at location 1613)
"Queer incommunicable joy it is, the joy of the vivid phrase that turns the statement of the horridest fact to beauty!" (location 1644)
"emitting such words as everyone knows and nobody prints." (euphemizing at location 1845)
"Then the public houses began to vomit forth the less desirable elements of Fishbourne society." (location 2026)
"The air was full of a spirituous reek." (location 2556).
"A novelist should present characters, not vivisect them publicly..." (location 2759)
MR. POLLY was first published in England in 1909. If you like it, you might want to follow up with THE LATE MATTIA PASCAL by Luigi Pirandello, which was first published in Italy in 1923. Or maybe you've already met MATTIA; if so, you might enjoy meeting MR. POLLY.
Thanks for reading. Now LIVE!
"...filled him with a vague and mystical happiness that he had no words, even mispronounceable words, to express." (location 486) And this gentleman has a way with words, all right!
"Time had removed the hair from the top of his head and distributed a small dividend to the plunder in little bunches carelessly and impartially over the rest of his features..." (location 684)
"'I've seen a mort of undertakers.'" (location 761)
"Mr. Polly, dear heart! firmly believed that things like that could and did happen--somewhere." (location 883)
"she cooked because food had to be cooked and with a sound moralist's entire disregard of the quality of the consequences. The food came from her hands done rather than improved, and looking as uncomfortable as savages clothed under duress by the missionary with a stock of out-sizes." ("strong meat there" at location 1613)
"Queer incommunicable joy it is, the joy of the vivid phrase that turns the statement of the horridest fact to beauty!" (location 1644)
"emitting such words as everyone knows and nobody prints." (euphemizing at location 1845)
"Then the public houses began to vomit forth the less desirable elements of Fishbourne society." (location 2026)
"The air was full of a spirituous reek." (location 2556).
"A novelist should present characters, not vivisect them publicly..." (location 2759)
MR. POLLY was first published in England in 1909. If you like it, you might want to follow up with THE LATE MATTIA PASCAL by Luigi Pirandello, which was first published in Italy in 1923. Or maybe you've already met MATTIA; if so, you might enjoy meeting MR. POLLY.
Thanks for reading. Now LIVE!
April 23, 2013
Everyone at some point in their lives will suddenly realise in their naive exuberance they made a colossal mistake that now has its python-like grip around their cowardly little necks, and that the only solution is to burn the shop and down and become a country hobo. Or maybe only the first part of that sentence. Life in the early 1900s was uniformly dreary for the working classes, but at least they were born and raised to expect nothing—nowadays we are taught from the womb to reach for the stars and dream big dreams and made to feel like failures if we haven’t achieved everything by the age of twenty-eight, when we are still young and sexy enough not to be worn down by bitterness and remorse to take some pleasure in our achievements. Mr. Polly is like you and me—witty but not witty enough and clever but not clever enough to escape the humdrum, drummed into a predetermined life of oafs, clots, lollygaggers, pissants, pipsqueaks, miscreants, toadies, bores, whiners, haters, tyrants and psychos. The only rebellion in this sprawling penitentiary we call civilisation used to be the pursuance of personal pleasure at all costs, so at least when you dropped dead at thirty you could do so with very happy memories, but nowadays such revolting self-interest is the reason our civilisation is quickly rotting from the inside and heading for a swift and painful annihilation by the time our grandchildren hit forty. Books like this one provide a necessary anatomisation of our repugnant species, and do so with a breathless passion for change.
November 13, 2018
Well! Color me surprised! H.G. Wells! Writer of Science Fiction! Writing a book that I actually loved!! I was really skeptical because to date I haven't read anything by Wells that I've enjoyed. Enter, The History of Mr Polly! What a delightful story! Humorous, fast pace! I'm sorry it ended so quickly! Five big ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️'s all the way! A must read for everyone!
March 16, 2022
The History of Mr. Polly (1910) is a wonderful little novel
H.G. Wells (1866-1946) is now most remembered as a pioneer of science fiction (e.g. The Time Machine (1895), The Island of Dr. Moreau (1896), The Invisible Man (1897), and The War of the Worlds (1897)) however in his Edwardian era heyday he was also known for a wide variety of different genres, including as a writer of major social novels of the period.
Today's readers are probably only vaguely aware of such titles as Kipps (1905), Tono-Bungay (1909), Love and Mr. Lewisham (1900), Ann Veronica (1909), and this one, The History of Mr. Polly (1910).
This is the first book I have read by H.G. Wells (until now my only exposure to him in print came when I read Rebecca West: A Modern Sibyl by Carl Rollyson). Rebecca West and H.G. Wells had a long term relationship - and a child together - Anthony West.
The History of Mr. Polly is an absolute gem with Mr. Polly an unlikely hero. Mr. Polly, loosely based on Wells himself, cleverly subverts Edwardian propriety and society's expectations. There's a plethora of lovely period insights however this is also a timeless and surprisingly modern tale. Mr. Polly might lack self-awareness however, in his own quiet way, he is a revolutionary with life lessons to impart that still ring true.
There are so wonderful scenes to enjoy: a superbly written funeral scene capturing the confusion, claustrophobia, pettiness etc of the occasion. There’s also a wedding, a dramatic fire, and a dangerous, life threatening conflict. The plot packs a lot into its modest 216 pages.
It’s amusing too. Mr Polly has an idiosyncratic and unique vocabulary which is very funny, and often confusing to those he encounters, and there are some funny set pieces.
The History of Mr. Polly (1910) is a wonderful little novel. I hope to read more literary novels by H.G. Wells soon.
5/5
The 1963 Pan edition I read contains an interesting two page biography of H.G. Wells which is followed by an introduction by his son Frank Wells.
This is the lovely cover of the 1963 Pan edition that I read....
H.G. Wells (1866-1946) is now most remembered as a pioneer of science fiction (e.g. The Time Machine (1895), The Island of Dr. Moreau (1896), The Invisible Man (1897), and The War of the Worlds (1897)) however in his Edwardian era heyday he was also known for a wide variety of different genres, including as a writer of major social novels of the period.
Today's readers are probably only vaguely aware of such titles as Kipps (1905), Tono-Bungay (1909), Love and Mr. Lewisham (1900), Ann Veronica (1909), and this one, The History of Mr. Polly (1910).
This is the first book I have read by H.G. Wells (until now my only exposure to him in print came when I read Rebecca West: A Modern Sibyl by Carl Rollyson). Rebecca West and H.G. Wells had a long term relationship - and a child together - Anthony West.
The History of Mr. Polly is an absolute gem with Mr. Polly an unlikely hero. Mr. Polly, loosely based on Wells himself, cleverly subverts Edwardian propriety and society's expectations. There's a plethora of lovely period insights however this is also a timeless and surprisingly modern tale. Mr. Polly might lack self-awareness however, in his own quiet way, he is a revolutionary with life lessons to impart that still ring true.
There are so wonderful scenes to enjoy: a superbly written funeral scene capturing the confusion, claustrophobia, pettiness etc of the occasion. There’s also a wedding, a dramatic fire, and a dangerous, life threatening conflict. The plot packs a lot into its modest 216 pages.
It’s amusing too. Mr Polly has an idiosyncratic and unique vocabulary which is very funny, and often confusing to those he encounters, and there are some funny set pieces.
The History of Mr. Polly (1910) is a wonderful little novel. I hope to read more literary novels by H.G. Wells soon.
5/5
The 1963 Pan edition I read contains an interesting two page biography of H.G. Wells which is followed by an introduction by his son Frank Wells.
This is the lovely cover of the 1963 Pan edition that I read....
November 25, 2025
As a teenager, I read all H.G. Wells's classic SF novels and plenty of his SF stories. I don't remember being impressed by the writing itself, but it was ages ago and back then I was primarily interested in the plot. I knew that he also wrote lots of non-fiction (on history, social issues etc.), but somehow I had no idea he was such a master of realistic and comic fiction. "The History of Mr. Polly" was one of the few books I read recently where the writing itself gave me an immense pleasure.
I also find interesting that it is based on his own autobiographical experience as a young tradesman. Mr. Polly is a charmingly comical anti-hero. His middle-aged life is so hopeless and empty that only a sudden idea to commit suicide brings a bit of "hope" into his dreary existence. But as he puts his brilliant suicidal plan into action, an unexpected turn of events opens a new and very different page in Mr. Polly's story.
I'm looking forward to reading more of Well's non-SF novels.
Read in 2022.
I also find interesting that it is based on his own autobiographical experience as a young tradesman. Mr. Polly is a charmingly comical anti-hero. His middle-aged life is so hopeless and empty that only a sudden idea to commit suicide brings a bit of "hope" into his dreary existence. But as he puts his brilliant suicidal plan into action, an unexpected turn of events opens a new and very different page in Mr. Polly's story.
I'm looking forward to reading more of Well's non-SF novels.
Read in 2022.
April 6, 2017
Until now, the only H G Wells that I had read were the far more well-known key Sci-Fi works (War of the Worlds etc) and was more or less ignorant of his other works. I am now astonished to learn what a prolific writer Wells was, producing so many and such a varied wealth of works.
The History of Mr Polly was therefore the first none Sci-Fi work of Wells that I embarked on – so many to choose from. Whilst initially being vaguely reminiscent of Wodehouse, it is easy to see why many have felt that Wells is a worthy successor to Dickens.
This story, despite the seemingly and ostensibly underwhelming nature of its main protagonist, is told so well, with such verve and such a feeling of authenticity, it is hard not to be engaged, compelled – and as with Dickens, the pages are filled, infused with so much life. That isn’t to say that this is ‘Dickens-lite’ or pseudo Dickens – more that it continues and builds upon the literary tradition in a way that is very much Wells own.
The unassuming, unambitious, unsuccessful, unaffected, unprepossessing, undecided, unaspiring, rudderless and directionless phenomenon that is Alfred Polly is told here as a Dickensian style saga, odyssey, and adventure and a history.
Polly is a great creation and this is certainly a great adventure. Having outgrown the joys of childhood and having been sent to work as a drapery apprentice, we initially meet Polly at a mid and pivotal point in his history – looking back with disdain, with disappointment at his young working and adult life to that point and looking ahead with further anticipated disappointment and entirely void of any ambition, direction or hopeful anticipation. Alfred seemingly drifts through life in somewhat of a dreamlike state, falling into/out of one stage in life to another. Polly is very much an anti-hero from the ‘ill-educated’ and struggling lower middle classes.
For all that – his list of ‘flaws’ – ambitionless, disappointment, disillusionment, lacking direction, a sense of purpose or commitment or loyalty, his very sense of morality skewed and confused – isn’t Polly ultimately all of us – an ‘everyman’ character?
Polly is very much disappointed in much of his life, but does at least ultimately come, or stumble across some sense or element of hope, happiness and serenity – this in spite of dismissing much of life as disappointing; questioning its worth and its point. This I feel is a very honest story with a strong sense of truth and authenticity prevailing throughout.
This is in a sense, a morally complex narrative and Polly is morally confused (or at the very least perplexed). Life isn’t what you expect it to be and ‘right’ very often turns out to be ‘wrong’.
Polly’s story is our story and definitely worth taking the time to read.
The History of Mr Polly was therefore the first none Sci-Fi work of Wells that I embarked on – so many to choose from. Whilst initially being vaguely reminiscent of Wodehouse, it is easy to see why many have felt that Wells is a worthy successor to Dickens.
This story, despite the seemingly and ostensibly underwhelming nature of its main protagonist, is told so well, with such verve and such a feeling of authenticity, it is hard not to be engaged, compelled – and as with Dickens, the pages are filled, infused with so much life. That isn’t to say that this is ‘Dickens-lite’ or pseudo Dickens – more that it continues and builds upon the literary tradition in a way that is very much Wells own.
The unassuming, unambitious, unsuccessful, unaffected, unprepossessing, undecided, unaspiring, rudderless and directionless phenomenon that is Alfred Polly is told here as a Dickensian style saga, odyssey, and adventure and a history.
Polly is a great creation and this is certainly a great adventure. Having outgrown the joys of childhood and having been sent to work as a drapery apprentice, we initially meet Polly at a mid and pivotal point in his history – looking back with disdain, with disappointment at his young working and adult life to that point and looking ahead with further anticipated disappointment and entirely void of any ambition, direction or hopeful anticipation. Alfred seemingly drifts through life in somewhat of a dreamlike state, falling into/out of one stage in life to another. Polly is very much an anti-hero from the ‘ill-educated’ and struggling lower middle classes.
For all that – his list of ‘flaws’ – ambitionless, disappointment, disillusionment, lacking direction, a sense of purpose or commitment or loyalty, his very sense of morality skewed and confused – isn’t Polly ultimately all of us – an ‘everyman’ character?
Polly is very much disappointed in much of his life, but does at least ultimately come, or stumble across some sense or element of hope, happiness and serenity – this in spite of dismissing much of life as disappointing; questioning its worth and its point. This I feel is a very honest story with a strong sense of truth and authenticity prevailing throughout.
This is in a sense, a morally complex narrative and Polly is morally confused (or at the very least perplexed). Life isn’t what you expect it to be and ‘right’ very often turns out to be ‘wrong’.
Polly’s story is our story and definitely worth taking the time to read.
March 19, 2022
I like this book—it’s light and it’s fun. It’s a good read.
I didn’t know that H.G. Wells wrote stories that were not science fiction. Discovering this has proved to be a pleasant surprise.
When I started the story, I was not impressed. The central character, the eponymous Mr. Polly, we first meet when he is in his twenties. His younger years are filled in too. We watch as the years go by and he changes. He matures in a nice way--he comes to think less of himself and more of others. The book does leave a message, but it is not pounded in. The whole book has a light feel to it. It’s fun. It’s amusing.
It wonderfully describes the English countryside and the ordinary, common folk living there. The birds, the streams, the lanes, hedgerows, meadows and fields, flowers and trees. It has the feel of a child’s picture book and is a delight to read. Picturesque!
The adventures, the shenanigans and curious exploits put a smile on your face. Reading this is relaxing and fun. No, it is not serious but as I said it does leave a nice message. I would appreciate suggestions from others regarding which books by Wells I should try next. Please, not science fiction though.
The audiobook is read well by Paul Shelley. Both the book and the narration are good and so both get three stars.
Oh, by the way, the book is said to have autobiographical content. This struck me as strange when I started the book. but you do understand what he is saying about himself and life at the book’s close. Nice book--read it. You’ll see what I mean.
I didn’t know that H.G. Wells wrote stories that were not science fiction. Discovering this has proved to be a pleasant surprise.
When I started the story, I was not impressed. The central character, the eponymous Mr. Polly, we first meet when he is in his twenties. His younger years are filled in too. We watch as the years go by and he changes. He matures in a nice way--he comes to think less of himself and more of others. The book does leave a message, but it is not pounded in. The whole book has a light feel to it. It’s fun. It’s amusing.
It wonderfully describes the English countryside and the ordinary, common folk living there. The birds, the streams, the lanes, hedgerows, meadows and fields, flowers and trees. It has the feel of a child’s picture book and is a delight to read. Picturesque!
The adventures, the shenanigans and curious exploits put a smile on your face. Reading this is relaxing and fun. No, it is not serious but as I said it does leave a nice message. I would appreciate suggestions from others regarding which books by Wells I should try next. Please, not science fiction though.
The audiobook is read well by Paul Shelley. Both the book and the narration are good and so both get three stars.
Oh, by the way, the book is said to have autobiographical content. This struck me as strange when I started the book. but you do understand what he is saying about himself and life at the book’s close. Nice book--read it. You’ll see what I mean.
August 9, 2021
Perhaps 3.5. I really enjoyed this one, though not quite as much as Kipps or Love and Mr Lewisham. It was a slightly odd and very interesting read, with very interesting themes and a strong ending.
August 19, 2019
Excellent novel written 100 years ago. The novel really gains steam with Polly’s disappearance from Fishbourne and the fight scenes with Mr. Uncle Jim are some of the best dark humor that I have read.
H.G. Wells is most widely known, and correctly so, as one of the original sci-fi authors with War of the Worlds, Invisible Man etc. But I think Mr. Polly is a better story (albeit less imaginative).
Some warning, the book is spasmodic and meandering in the beginning as Wells sets up the characters. I will say that Wells struggles sometimes in connecting and transitioning scenes (not a master like a D.H. Hardy or Edith Wharton) but his prose includes some memorable passages.
This intriguing story becomes impossible to put down at that point when the arson occurs and through the subsequent adventures at Potwell Inn with Uncle Jim. The book finishes with a well constructed twist at the end.
In conclusion here is my favorite foreboding passage in the book.
“Who’s Uncle Jim?” Mr. Polly asked in a faded voice.
“Don’t you know who Uncle Jim is? He’ll show you. He’s a scorcher, is Uncle Jim. He only came back just a little time ago, and he’s “scooted three men. He don’t like strangers about, don’t Uncle Jim. He can swear. He’s going to teach me, soon as I can whissle properly.”
“Teach you to swear!” cried Mr. Polly, horrified.
“And spit,” said the little girl proudly. “He says I’m the gamest little beast he ever came across—ever.”
For the first time in his life it seemed to Mr. Polly that he had come across something sheerly dreadful. He stared at the pretty thing of flesh and spirit in front of him, lightly balanced on its stout little legs and looking at him with eyes that had still to learn the expression of either disgust or fear.
“I say,” said Mr. Polly, “how old are you?”
“Nine,” said the little girl.”
H.G. Wells is most widely known, and correctly so, as one of the original sci-fi authors with War of the Worlds, Invisible Man etc. But I think Mr. Polly is a better story (albeit less imaginative).
Some warning, the book is spasmodic and meandering in the beginning as Wells sets up the characters. I will say that Wells struggles sometimes in connecting and transitioning scenes (not a master like a D.H. Hardy or Edith Wharton) but his prose includes some memorable passages.
This intriguing story becomes impossible to put down at that point when the arson occurs and through the subsequent adventures at Potwell Inn with Uncle Jim. The book finishes with a well constructed twist at the end.
In conclusion here is my favorite foreboding passage in the book.
“Who’s Uncle Jim?” Mr. Polly asked in a faded voice.
“Don’t you know who Uncle Jim is? He’ll show you. He’s a scorcher, is Uncle Jim. He only came back just a little time ago, and he’s “scooted three men. He don’t like strangers about, don’t Uncle Jim. He can swear. He’s going to teach me, soon as I can whissle properly.”
“Teach you to swear!” cried Mr. Polly, horrified.
“And spit,” said the little girl proudly. “He says I’m the gamest little beast he ever came across—ever.”
For the first time in his life it seemed to Mr. Polly that he had come across something sheerly dreadful. He stared at the pretty thing of flesh and spirit in front of him, lightly balanced on its stout little legs and looking at him with eyes that had still to learn the expression of either disgust or fear.
“I say,” said Mr. Polly, “how old are you?”
“Nine,” said the little girl.”
March 1, 2024
DNF. Quite charming and funny for a while until the novelty wears off. I should probably have persisted but I was bored after reading 25%. I’m not sorry I read some of it but I don’t think I’ll ever return to read all of it. It’s just not my cup of tea, “O’ Man!”
May 26, 2013
The esteemed M.J. Nicholls dryly encircled the genius of this novel. It was fitting to conclude my week-long tour of Britons electing paired initials as Christian names - to rest easy under the warm praise of the Scotsman with his love of completeism and exhumation.
Alfred Polly is my hero. His neologisms are remarkable. I thought of citing a half dozen examples but feel that out of context, it would prove to be shit. His suspicions and pleasures appear to be my own. One can't just sit around forever. Such is my paraphrase of the novel's amazing conclusion.
Alfred Polly is my hero. His neologisms are remarkable. I thought of citing a half dozen examples but feel that out of context, it would prove to be shit. His suspicions and pleasures appear to be my own. One can't just sit around forever. Such is my paraphrase of the novel's amazing conclusion.
August 14, 2019
This was the first H.G. Wells book that I read, maybe twenty years ago as a teenager and so my first experience of his writing wasn't anything science fiction based at all, and I've only read some of those ones more recently. This is a very enjoyable, old fashioned kind of a novel about a man who seems set on one path, before things inexplicably change for him and life takes an unexpected turn. It begins slowly and then gets more and more intriguing as it goes on and almost becomes bizarre at some points, but not in a bad way. The story-line is pretty unusual and unorthodox and the good thing is that you never quite know what Mr Polly is going to do next, as he's a bit of a loose cannon and seems to go whichever way the breeze takes him...
It's not as ground breaking as his science fiction novels that I've read so far, or as dark and peculiar as something like The Island of Dr Moreau, but its not trying to be like those books and is nearly as fascinating in a different, more subtle way and really does have a very unusual plot, which I liked. I've got Tono Bungay and may read that soon, as that sounds a good one and like this, could be another little belter!
January 8, 2020
From TIA:
Three part dramatisation of H G Wells' 1910 "comedy" novel.
https://archive.org/details/HistoryOf...
Three part dramatisation of H G Wells' 1910 "comedy" novel.
https://archive.org/details/HistoryOf...
August 23, 2015
HG Wells is known for his pioneering science fiction, like Island of Dr. Moreau and Invisible Man, but he wrote tons of unfantastic books. Kipps and Ann Veronica are among the better-known ones; and History of Mr. Polly's recently nabbed a spot on The Guardian's Top 100 books by white men, and some pages in Michael Schmidt's The Novel: A Biography and it seems to be having a little moment for itself, so here we are.
It's not that great.
Mr. Polly is an average little man - somewhat ruined by chronic literature abuse, but more of a Sancho than a knight. When he tries on a quixotic suit, he realizes quickly that he's more schoolgirl prank (by another of Wells' underage vixens; the man did like them young) than hero. Chastened, he shuffles into a marriage and an unprofitable business. This all takes up about three quarters of the book, and it's fitfully entertaining - the wedding is pretty funny - but I wasn't engaged. It's episodic and meandering; Polly's malapropisms aren't as funny as everyone thinks they are; and the complete scorn for Mrs. Polly feels misogynist.
The last quarter changes its tone considerably, and at least it's more exciting. There's a great cracking action scene, and then another one that doesn't really work with the flow of the book but is way more entertaining than the rest of the book so who really cares. A good around-the-house chase is never amiss. And in the end,
It's fine. I was sometimes amused. I like the science fiction better.
It's not that great.
Mr. Polly is an average little man - somewhat ruined by chronic literature abuse, but more of a Sancho than a knight. When he tries on a quixotic suit, he realizes quickly that he's more schoolgirl prank (by another of Wells' underage vixens; the man did like them young) than hero. Chastened, he shuffles into a marriage and an unprofitable business. This all takes up about three quarters of the book, and it's fitfully entertaining - the wedding is pretty funny - but I wasn't engaged. It's episodic and meandering; Polly's malapropisms aren't as funny as everyone thinks they are; and the complete scorn for Mrs. Polly feels misogynist.
The last quarter changes its tone considerably, and at least it's more exciting. There's a great cracking action scene, and then another one that doesn't really work with the flow of the book but is way more entertaining than the rest of the book so who really cares. A good around-the-house chase is never amiss. And in the end,
It's fine. I was sometimes amused. I like the science fiction better.
June 26, 2020
4.5 stars
I had never heard of this book before I stumbled upon it in an antique store. I don't like antique stores, but my husband does, so while I wait for him to finish shopping, I check out the disorganized shelf or two of books you can usually find in these places.
Something about this book drew my eye—maybe the combination of an author I'd heard of and a title I hadn't. I read the introduction by Sinclair Lewis and decided I should probably buy the book, never mind that my to-read list is well over 200, and that I don't often buy books.
I'm very glad I picked it up, because it was a lovely way to find out that H.G. Wells is my kind of writer. I must get to know him better.
Mr. Polly isn't a particularly interesting character at first, aside from his propensity to mispronounce and make up words. He's not really admirable either. The first few decades of his life are lived passively, or as he puts it later
Wells makes no apology for his protagonist, saying toward the end of the book
There are 10 long chapters in this book. I think of them more as sections, and I admit I was not enamored of the story at the beginning as much as I was with the clever writing. The story gets better as it builds up steam, and I loved the 9th chapter, which I thought had the funniest passages. There were times the descriptions sounded a bit like P.G. Wodehouse, and I dearly love Wodehouse. This one is probably the best example-a description of ducklings in the garden.
I'm curious about the author's motivation for writing a novel about a character like Mr. Polly. He never really reforms as much as finds a habitat that suits him. The character's path to achieving this must have been controversial back when this was written.
Regardless of what was behind it, this was a swell book, and I look forward to reading more by this author.
I had never heard of this book before I stumbled upon it in an antique store. I don't like antique stores, but my husband does, so while I wait for him to finish shopping, I check out the disorganized shelf or two of books you can usually find in these places.
Something about this book drew my eye—maybe the combination of an author I'd heard of and a title I hadn't. I read the introduction by Sinclair Lewis and decided I should probably buy the book, never mind that my to-read list is well over 200, and that I don't often buy books.
I'm very glad I picked it up, because it was a lovely way to find out that H.G. Wells is my kind of writer. I must get to know him better.
Mr. Polly isn't a particularly interesting character at first, aside from his propensity to mispronounce and make up words. He's not really admirable either. The first few decades of his life are lived passively, or as he puts it later
I've never really planned my life or set out to live. I happened; things happened to me.
Wells makes no apology for his protagonist, saying toward the end of the book
This is a history and not a glorification of Mr. Polly, and I tell things as they were with him.
There are 10 long chapters in this book. I think of them more as sections, and I admit I was not enamored of the story at the beginning as much as I was with the clever writing. The story gets better as it builds up steam, and I loved the 9th chapter, which I thought had the funniest passages. There were times the descriptions sounded a bit like P.G. Wodehouse, and I dearly love Wodehouse. This one is probably the best example-a description of ducklings in the garden.
They were piping about among the vegetables...and as he and the plump woman came down the garden path, the little creatures mobbed them, and ran over their boots and in between Mr. Polly's legs, and did their best to be trodden upon and killed after the manner of ducklings all the world over.
I'm curious about the author's motivation for writing a novel about a character like Mr. Polly. He never really reforms as much as finds a habitat that suits him. The character's path to achieving this must have been controversial back when this was written.
Regardless of what was behind it, this was a swell book, and I look forward to reading more by this author.
January 12, 2014
I read this not long after reading Orwell's Coming Up For Air. This one is a much better novel, but they're interesting as two books about very similar characters in very similar circumstances; in the wrong class in Britain at the wrong time, badly educated, badly married, dreams lost, no real prospects or hopes or pleasure left in life when the books begin. Wells is much more subtle about the blind ignorant ways in which people can make themselves miserable in life, and get what they put out.
Also, in this one, the author has sympathy for his protagonist, warts and all, and he shows the internal forces shaping his life just as strongly as the external. Nobody in it is a simple caricature. And it is funny. I don't think I ever laughed out loud, but I was smiling a lot, and wincing too. The story is slower at first, and then starts leaping along in all kinds of startling and funny ways. The fire chapter is well worth the price of admission all by itself.
Also, in this one, the author has sympathy for his protagonist, warts and all, and he shows the internal forces shaping his life just as strongly as the external. Nobody in it is a simple caricature. And it is funny. I don't think I ever laughed out loud, but I was smiling a lot, and wincing too. The story is slower at first, and then starts leaping along in all kinds of startling and funny ways. The fire chapter is well worth the price of admission all by itself.
August 2, 2025
The protagonist Mr Polly was, for me, not particularly likeable, quite selfish and a little lazy..... It was an okay read for me.
Want to read
May 30, 2024The Guardian ranked this is the #39 of the 100 best novels written in English: https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...
August 13, 2022
I love this book so much but can't explain why - sorry people! It's just the little life of a little man. Mr Polly is not very bright, not very ambitious, not very interesting (even to himself). His life passes without very much dramatic or unusual happening... I'm not really selling this am I? Told you I couldn't explain :op
The writing is achingly beautiful though - simple, but pitched to hit all the right notes in all the right order throughout, and rollingly paced. Essential humanity is at the core and the final chapter has me filling up every time (partly in sympathy with the story but also just marvelling at the perfection of the writing). I'm rambling, that's the best I can do, I'll stop now.
The writing is achingly beautiful though - simple, but pitched to hit all the right notes in all the right order throughout, and rollingly paced. Essential humanity is at the core and the final chapter has me filling up every time (partly in sympathy with the story but also just marvelling at the perfection of the writing). I'm rambling, that's the best I can do, I'll stop now.
May 13, 2009
This book was written 100 years ago.
It hasn't dated.
I was stunned. Why hadn't I heard of this book before I randomly picked it off the library shelf? Why is it not on all kinds of lists? The style is deceptively simple but the ideas expressed are universal. Mr. Polly is not unique to any one era, he isn't terribly fashionable. That's why he has not dated. He is just as relevent now as he was 100 years ago.
It hasn't dated.
I was stunned. Why hadn't I heard of this book before I randomly picked it off the library shelf? Why is it not on all kinds of lists? The style is deceptively simple but the ideas expressed are universal. Mr. Polly is not unique to any one era, he isn't terribly fashionable. That's why he has not dated. He is just as relevent now as he was 100 years ago.
October 28, 2016
Adrian Praetzellis did a fine job narrating but unfortunately, his voice and pacing weren't for me. I found it hard to focus on (especially in the car) and often ended up having to reread portions in the Kindle edition to find out what happened.
August 21, 2014
When I was very young I used to think that working in a shop would be the best job you could have. I think it was the idea of being surrounded by all the things that normally you wouldn't be able to buy, being able to go into those areas marked "private" and to be a step away from being part of the general public. I remember when I grandmother started working at a Christian book shop and I was so jealous. I remember it was so exciting going into the shop when it was closed and sitting and looking at all the erasers and pens she had. When I started working I had several jobs working in shops and soon un-romanticized the idea for me.
The history of Mr. Polly again holds with the idea that being a shopkeeper is not all that it's cracked up to be. While being one of the most respected of HG Wellls' novels I found it a little disappointing at first. I found it hard to get into the colloquial spellings, mispronunciations and ridiculous words made up by the main character. I did enjoy reading about his younger years, but once he grew up and his father died, and was trying to get married I felt a bit at a loss. Reading books about unlikeable characters with no sympathies and interesting lives is not what I've come to expect from Mr. Wells. However just as I was about to despair Mr. Polly went on a book buying spree and suddenly I found my sympathies returning. Then the book got very good as he planned to commit suicide and burn down his shop as his means of escape. Then the book became a very interesting look at how one can step back from society and just do what you want rather than what you have too.
In the end I found the message enjoyable and uplifting. It was great to see a character pull themselves up and discover inner strength. It was also nice to read a book about the lower middle class of Victorian/Edwardian society for a change. The book was very good at pointing out the stereotypes and misconceptions about them. Though not some of my favorite writing from HG Wells, (I think I much prefer his style when he writes in the first person). In the end I found I enjoyed it quite a bit. Though not as much as Tono-Bungay or The Sleeper has awakened or even The War of the Worlds.
The history of Mr. Polly again holds with the idea that being a shopkeeper is not all that it's cracked up to be. While being one of the most respected of HG Wellls' novels I found it a little disappointing at first. I found it hard to get into the colloquial spellings, mispronunciations and ridiculous words made up by the main character. I did enjoy reading about his younger years, but once he grew up and his father died, and was trying to get married I felt a bit at a loss. Reading books about unlikeable characters with no sympathies and interesting lives is not what I've come to expect from Mr. Wells. However just as I was about to despair Mr. Polly went on a book buying spree and suddenly I found my sympathies returning. Then the book got very good as he planned to commit suicide and burn down his shop as his means of escape. Then the book became a very interesting look at how one can step back from society and just do what you want rather than what you have too.
In the end I found the message enjoyable and uplifting. It was great to see a character pull themselves up and discover inner strength. It was also nice to read a book about the lower middle class of Victorian/Edwardian society for a change. The book was very good at pointing out the stereotypes and misconceptions about them. Though not some of my favorite writing from HG Wells, (I think I much prefer his style when he writes in the first person). In the end I found I enjoyed it quite a bit. Though not as much as Tono-Bungay or The Sleeper has awakened or even The War of the Worlds.
December 29, 2012
Absolutely hated this book. This is a book that's meant to act as social commentary, but unless you are intimately familiar with the time period or own a time machine (wink wink nudge nudge) the references don't make any sense and you will most likely miss them. In other words, this does not stand the test of time
January 11, 2017
Call me a cynic, but the existential struggles of an ordinary hero who reads a lot, but can’t write correctly leave me unimpressed.
Mr. Polly is a good character on paper, but that is where he remains; he never really jumps out of the pages and comes to life, not even after faking his own death. Guess this means he never had to fake anything in the end.
Mr. Polly is a good character on paper, but that is where he remains; he never really jumps out of the pages and comes to life, not even after faking his own death. Guess this means he never had to fake anything in the end.
January 14, 2019
Fun and insightful.
September 14, 2019
Beautifully written and full of whit and whimsey.
December 5, 2017
I have to say that “The History of Mr. Polly” took me on a bit of a roller coaster ride. Not because of any action in the narrative, there is precious little of that until the last 50 or so pages, but more how my feelings about Mr. Polly shifted throughout the story.
We first meet him as he finishes an unappetising meal from what we can gather is a quite unappealing wife. Mr. Polly goes outside and just starts moaning to himself about how his life has come to this sorry state of affairs. How sorry? Wells then takes us back to Polly’s younger days where it all started and oh my……to say he was unambitious would be an understatement. As Polly himself readily admits, life has always been something that just happens to him. Anything of note has just snuck up on him by chance and by sheer force of not wanting to exert any energy one way or the other, just accepts it.
As someone with a tendency to want to lay about just reading all day like Polly does, I could sympathise but still, he takes it to a whole new level of apathy. So through school, work, and his marriage(the wedding scene is one of the funnier sequences I’ve read in a long time) he just is.
Then we get to those last 40 or so pages and things happen where I think I know this guy by this point but then realise, maybe I don’t. He makes some shockingly bad choices (I suppose any choice was a step up for him) that turn out to somehow be not so bad after all, depending on your perspective. In the end I almost came to respect and like this character.
Overall, I loved Wells writing here. Polly and the people around him speak in a slang that is difficult to follow at times but you eventually get used to, and even like. Polly in particular loves to make up his own nonsense words, for lack of anything else to do with his time, and peppers his conversations with them. Examples?
How about: “I was sitting there in my melancholy rectrospectatiousness”
Or: “Whoa, my friskiacious palfry”.
Which to be fair is actual English apparently, but still....wow.
The book has its flaws but looking at it in rectrospectatiousness, it was definitely a lot of fun.
We first meet him as he finishes an unappetising meal from what we can gather is a quite unappealing wife. Mr. Polly goes outside and just starts moaning to himself about how his life has come to this sorry state of affairs. How sorry? Wells then takes us back to Polly’s younger days where it all started and oh my……to say he was unambitious would be an understatement. As Polly himself readily admits, life has always been something that just happens to him. Anything of note has just snuck up on him by chance and by sheer force of not wanting to exert any energy one way or the other, just accepts it.
As someone with a tendency to want to lay about just reading all day like Polly does, I could sympathise but still, he takes it to a whole new level of apathy. So through school, work, and his marriage(the wedding scene is one of the funnier sequences I’ve read in a long time) he just is.
Then we get to those last 40 or so pages and things happen where I think I know this guy by this point but then realise, maybe I don’t. He makes some shockingly bad choices (I suppose any choice was a step up for him) that turn out to somehow be not so bad after all, depending on your perspective. In the end I almost came to respect and like this character.
Overall, I loved Wells writing here. Polly and the people around him speak in a slang that is difficult to follow at times but you eventually get used to, and even like. Polly in particular loves to make up his own nonsense words, for lack of anything else to do with his time, and peppers his conversations with them. Examples?
How about: “I was sitting there in my melancholy rectrospectatiousness”
Or: “Whoa, my friskiacious palfry”.
Which to be fair is actual English apparently, but still....wow.
The book has its flaws but looking at it in rectrospectatiousness, it was definitely a lot of fun.
March 14, 2020
Mr “Elfrid” Polly is classified by Wikipedia as an antihero although I feel that “pícaro,” as in picaresque, might also apply. Perhaps a combination of these two designations? Mr Polly bungles his way through life, in part letting “life” send him in whatever direction like a pachinko ball, but also in part by his own unwavering dedication to doing as little as possible in the form of work but as much as possible in the form of idleness, aimless contemplation, and simple pleasure.
His beginnings are inauspicious in terms of parental care (after about the time he began walking), in his imprecise but strict schooling and finally when he accidentally falls into the haberdashery trade from which he eventually falls out. Marriage is nowhere on the horizon until he meets his three marriageable cousins and falls into marriage with one of them, almost randomly. The marriage is more taxing than his restless soul can tolerate but his stiff upper lip carries him through 15 years of the comfortless marriage and store management until he reaches a breaking point that even his indolent soul cannot abide.
I was initially rather disturbed or annoyed by the silly caricature that Polly represented, but by the end of the book I found it quite satisfying and perhaps I was just a bit jealous of Polly’s attitude and fate. In the end he pulled his belt tight and did all right. Not the kind of “all right” that most mothers might want, but in Mr Polly’s terms, he did just fine.
This is NOT your ordinary H. G. Wells book, but one that you might enjoy if you are not too stiff about propriety and the demands of a fastidious and well regimented social order. I m forced to add this to my list of favourite books.
His beginnings are inauspicious in terms of parental care (after about the time he began walking), in his imprecise but strict schooling and finally when he accidentally falls into the haberdashery trade from which he eventually falls out. Marriage is nowhere on the horizon until he meets his three marriageable cousins and falls into marriage with one of them, almost randomly. The marriage is more taxing than his restless soul can tolerate but his stiff upper lip carries him through 15 years of the comfortless marriage and store management until he reaches a breaking point that even his indolent soul cannot abide.
I was initially rather disturbed or annoyed by the silly caricature that Polly represented, but by the end of the book I found it quite satisfying and perhaps I was just a bit jealous of Polly’s attitude and fate. In the end he pulled his belt tight and did all right. Not the kind of “all right” that most mothers might want, but in Mr Polly’s terms, he did just fine.
This is NOT your ordinary H. G. Wells book, but one that you might enjoy if you are not too stiff about propriety and the demands of a fastidious and well regimented social order. I m forced to add this to my list of favourite books.
June 8, 2016
Getting through the to the end of the book was a grind. Not funny - not even a little. I've always enjoyed his science fiction novels - but this was dreary and tedious, and then some.
I've read articles and reviews about this book. So I understand the intention of the novel and what other people find amusing about it. But for me I kept on wanting to reply, "Yes, yes, I get it, Mr Wells. Mr Polly is an idiot. The people around him are idiots, and a good proportion of them are unpleasant and grasping. But good grief, will this book ever come to an end."
Reading this book was a trial and tribulation. Something to be avoided.
I've read articles and reviews about this book. So I understand the intention of the novel and what other people find amusing about it. But for me I kept on wanting to reply, "Yes, yes, I get it, Mr Wells. Mr Polly is an idiot. The people around him are idiots, and a good proportion of them are unpleasant and grasping. But good grief, will this book ever come to an end."
Reading this book was a trial and tribulation. Something to be avoided.
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