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God the Invisible King
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858 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1917
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574 people want to read
About the author
H.G. Wells
5,361 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 - 24 of 24 reviews
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February 12, 2017Referenced in The Secret History of Wonder Woman:
...[Margaret] Sanger, who had divorced her husband, began a decades-long affair with H.G. Wells. (A barely fictionalized Sanger is the hero's lover in Wells's autobiographical 1922 novel, The Secret Places of the Heart.)
(p99, Lepore)
October 13, 2015
Yazarı HG Wells olduğundan, zamanında satın aldığım bir kitaptı bu. Okuyayım dedim. Meğersem Wells'in kendisine yarattığı dinin bir nevi kutsal kitabıymış.
Neyse, aslında yer yer deizme yakın sularda gezse de, bunca aptallık varken yeni bir dine ihtiyaç duyulmasını gayet manasız buluyor, iyi günler diliyorum.
Neyse, aslında yer yer deizme yakın sularda gezse de, bunca aptallık varken yeni bir dine ihtiyaç duyulmasını gayet manasız buluyor, iyi günler diliyorum.
January 4, 2021
I like it a lot that this is a novel of ideas, that Wells uses it to observe the world from a bird's eye view, and I was interested in his vision of a future which in many ways proved to be prophetic (like the changed status of women and the relationships between them and men). I was also interested in the love life of his main character which was supposed to be at the centre of the novel, but ended up I feel being quite peripheral to it. It is this last point that disappointed me. I finished this book unsure what Wells was trying to say about his supposedly main theme: the complexities of romantic love. His point at the end seemed to be that it is bound with great pain - hardly a novel perspective...
Read
June 25, 2014I don't know how to rate this. I was glad to read it for the light it shed on some of Wells' fiction - namely Mr Britling Sees it Through and The Soul of a Bishop though some of it is very wooly indeed. Much of it was motivatd by the despair he felt over the war, the changes in his relationship with Rebecca West and the frustration over several larger projects he was involved with. The short book is filled with ideas that he later repudiated and its interesting to see someone who is as sure of himself as Wells was, struggle so.
Very glad I read it.
Very glad I read it.
July 21, 2019
The protagonist comes to a psychoanalytic and asks to prescribe him a drug since he's such a cad. Refusing him the drug the doctor condescends to go to a field trip together to sort the patient's women business out. While on a trip they meet a nice American girl that the protagonist immediately falls in love with. After securing the presence of reciprocal feelings the protagonists decides against having that girl since, again, he's such a cad. He's resolute to sublime his desire into something high and useful and works himself to death, which is, because he's such a shameless cad, the best outcome imaginable for him. His mistress and wife sob their hearts out on his shiny coffin. The end.
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If you aren't particularly interested in Wells' works, don't waste your time, it's the worst of his fiction.
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If you aren't particularly interested in Wells' works, don't waste your time, it's the worst of his fiction.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2015
Starts a bit slow - an industrialist comes to a doctor complaining of odd ailments and they journey together to try and uncover the sources of his illness. But I was fascinated by how much Wells used this novel to reveal deeper pyscholigical truths, about himself, but maybe about all of us. Also, some great female characters. Sometimes I think Wells didn't even know how much of a feminist he really was.
April 12, 2017
Kinda slow at the start but as he starts on his journey of self-discovery and falls truly in love with a woman, it sad that it ends with him taking his last breath with no one noticing, not even the night nurse. Spent his life alone with no real companionship only to experience it briefly and even still to die alone all because of pride.
October 5, 2015
A beautifully developed characterisation of a man with genius torn by a belief in a new age, meeting a woman soulmate who can never be one, and the social realities of England and his wife.
July 22, 2018
A provocative read as the author works through his thoughts on religion and philosophy.
May 3, 2025
https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/the-secret-places-of-the-heart-by-h-g-wells/
I’m trawling through the bottom end of H.G. Wells’ novels, and this one is not particularly good. The protagonist (rather obviously Wells himself) goes on a road trip with his psychiatrist to try and sort out his feelings about his wife (Jane Wells) and his lover (Rebecca West), and while exploring the West of England he meets a charming American (Margaret Sanger) with whom he eventually starts an affair. The book is rather short but seemed to go on for ever. In some of his other novels, Wells captures emotion and love rather well, but not here. The ending is particularly weak. Adam Roberts thinks much the same as me (for once) but at much greater length.
There are some rather good descriptions of Avebury, Stonehenge and other tourist attractions, which are among the book’s redeeming features, and the protagonist has a very silly Fawlty moment of beating up his car after it has broken down. But you can really skip this.
I’m trawling through the bottom end of H.G. Wells’ novels, and this one is not particularly good. The protagonist (rather obviously Wells himself) goes on a road trip with his psychiatrist to try and sort out his feelings about his wife (Jane Wells) and his lover (Rebecca West), and while exploring the West of England he meets a charming American (Margaret Sanger) with whom he eventually starts an affair. The book is rather short but seemed to go on for ever. In some of his other novels, Wells captures emotion and love rather well, but not here. The ending is particularly weak. Adam Roberts thinks much the same as me (for once) but at much greater length.
There are some rather good descriptions of Avebury, Stonehenge and other tourist attractions, which are among the book’s redeeming features, and the protagonist has a very silly Fawlty moment of beating up his car after it has broken down. But you can really skip this.
July 24, 2019
Although a very enjoyable read, for my last ever H G Wells book, I was hoping for something a bit more, to end with a bang rather than a fizzle.
Like with other works, instead of focusing on his Fabian Society Beliefs, he turned his attention to Political Philosophy. He we have two psychiatrists discussing the beliefs of the day. Similarly Ireland, ‘The Irish Question’, Sinn Feinn play a role in Wells’s works.
Within the story, we also have the ‘Love Triangle’; Husband, wife and mistress.
A pleasant read, nothing out of the ordinary, a good bulk standard ‘Wells Read’.
Like with other works, instead of focusing on his Fabian Society Beliefs, he turned his attention to Political Philosophy. He we have two psychiatrists discussing the beliefs of the day. Similarly Ireland, ‘The Irish Question’, Sinn Feinn play a role in Wells’s works.
Within the story, we also have the ‘Love Triangle’; Husband, wife and mistress.
A pleasant read, nothing out of the ordinary, a good bulk standard ‘Wells Read’.
January 12, 2020
A shocking frank discussion of society & sexuality in the early 1900's.
While society has come a long way in openness of subjects since then, individuals are still mucking about - trying to figure out themselves & their relationships - with little success.
While other commentaries on this short novel show this to be a semi-autobiographical account of Wells own affair with Margaret Sanger (women's reproductive rights), the ending is certainly meant to deflect this tale from himself.
While society has come a long way in openness of subjects since then, individuals are still mucking about - trying to figure out themselves & their relationships - with little success.
While other commentaries on this short novel show this to be a semi-autobiographical account of Wells own affair with Margaret Sanger (women's reproductive rights), the ending is certainly meant to deflect this tale from himself.
September 9, 2025
I’m not sure how this book ended up on my list but I found it to be a bit navel-gazing and mopey. Rounding down from 2.5 stars
November 26, 2022
I was stunned to find this book written by H.G Wells, the futurist, a science fiction writer. After reading it, I understood better why he wrote "Sleeper awakes. The subject? The formation of Christianity and covered very nicely with excellent arguments and historical information. At the time of publication, he was unaware of archaeological findings in Egypt and claimed that no one knows who created the base of the current religious system. That is, of course, not true; now we know that it is not Abraham, as m beloved Jews want to claim but Akhenaten. Anyhow, despite this "wrong" starting point, all the additional information is accurate, to my knowledge.
It all starts at the start of the Easter Roman Empire, the Greek Byzantium. 300 years after the death of Christ, those who spread the Evangelion, the Greeks, had slowly taken power from Rome. They established an empire that lasted for 1000 years until the fall of Konstantinoupolis. To do that, they needed unification and order in religious affairs, so they copied Marcus Aurelius's practice, which tried to "pacify" the empire with Stoicism. This time Neoplatonism was used. Socrates claimed that the best ruler is a Philosopher King, but between us, all kings get killed and therefore, one could naturally conclude that an invisible King is needed. One that rules eternally and philosophically.
300 before the establishment of the Byzantine empire, a story of a good man was told of Jesus. In those 300 years after his death, multiple versions of early Christianity existed. As in software development, you need to control the versions to have a stable release. Early Christianity was mixed with paganism but, most importantly, with Greek Philosophy, especially Plato, Aristotle and Socrates.
Konstantine, Roman Emperor of the East of Byzantium, showed the "schism" of the different versions, the intellectual fights between early Christians and decided to unify them, primarily to suppress an internal revolt such deep philosophical debates could cause. The Nicene Creed
He organised something similar to the First International conference between Communists and Anarchists. The topic? An intellectual debate between Arian and Athanasius is similar to that between Marx and Bakunin.
Arian belief that Jesus was created and not equal to God. This word "equal" is a huge subject back then and even now, considering the "equality" between man and woman issue. There few of us that believe that better word to describe the relationship is "parity" (of equal value) since biologically man and woman can never be "equal" in all their parts and functions.
Precisly as now, back then the word of philosophers gots involved into such debate and the translation errors of the Greek word HOMIOS or better Homoousion (/ˌhɒmoʊˈuːsiɒn, ˌhoʊm-/ HO(H)M-oh-OO-see-on; Ancient Greek: ὁμοούσιον, lit. 'same in being, same in essence', from ὁμός, homós, "same" and οὐσία, ousía, "being" or "essence").
To make the long story shorty, Arian lost and the established creed is of the Holy Trinity of 3 "equal" parts. H.G Wells described the case not as above but rather touched key points of faith, not as an accusation of religion or Christianity but rather as a faithful that seeking a deeper meaning.
He believed that Armenia Orthodoxy has kept something of the original Nicean degrees. Miaphysitism is the Christological doctrine that holds Jesus, the "Incarnate Word, is fully divine and fully human, in one 'nature' (physis). It is a position held by the Oriental Orthodox Churches and differs from the Chalcedonian position that Jesus is one "person" (Greek: ὑπόστασις) in two "natures" (Greek: φύσεις), a divine nature and a human nature (Dyophysitism).
You see all the above "translations" of Greek words into Latin and after into other languages have caused big issues and shisms in Christianity becouse Greek is much richer language and hard to you find 1 to 1 match. Based on those words the definition of sins and redemption are also based and if the root word is "corrupted" due to translation everything else gets "corrupted" due to that.
A very nice book by a Sientific writer that shows clearly how his deep philosophical desire and quest to knowledge. Highly recommended.
It all starts at the start of the Easter Roman Empire, the Greek Byzantium. 300 years after the death of Christ, those who spread the Evangelion, the Greeks, had slowly taken power from Rome. They established an empire that lasted for 1000 years until the fall of Konstantinoupolis. To do that, they needed unification and order in religious affairs, so they copied Marcus Aurelius's practice, which tried to "pacify" the empire with Stoicism. This time Neoplatonism was used. Socrates claimed that the best ruler is a Philosopher King, but between us, all kings get killed and therefore, one could naturally conclude that an invisible King is needed. One that rules eternally and philosophically.
300 before the establishment of the Byzantine empire, a story of a good man was told of Jesus. In those 300 years after his death, multiple versions of early Christianity existed. As in software development, you need to control the versions to have a stable release. Early Christianity was mixed with paganism but, most importantly, with Greek Philosophy, especially Plato, Aristotle and Socrates.
Konstantine, Roman Emperor of the East of Byzantium, showed the "schism" of the different versions, the intellectual fights between early Christians and decided to unify them, primarily to suppress an internal revolt such deep philosophical debates could cause. The Nicene Creed
He organised something similar to the First International conference between Communists and Anarchists. The topic? An intellectual debate between Arian and Athanasius is similar to that between Marx and Bakunin.
Arian belief that Jesus was created and not equal to God. This word "equal" is a huge subject back then and even now, considering the "equality" between man and woman issue. There few of us that believe that better word to describe the relationship is "parity" (of equal value) since biologically man and woman can never be "equal" in all their parts and functions.
Precisly as now, back then the word of philosophers gots involved into such debate and the translation errors of the Greek word HOMIOS or better Homoousion (/ˌhɒmoʊˈuːsiɒn, ˌhoʊm-/ HO(H)M-oh-OO-see-on; Ancient Greek: ὁμοούσιον, lit. 'same in being, same in essence', from ὁμός, homós, "same" and οὐσία, ousía, "being" or "essence").
To make the long story shorty, Arian lost and the established creed is of the Holy Trinity of 3 "equal" parts. H.G Wells described the case not as above but rather touched key points of faith, not as an accusation of religion or Christianity but rather as a faithful that seeking a deeper meaning.
He believed that Armenia Orthodoxy has kept something of the original Nicean degrees. Miaphysitism is the Christological doctrine that holds Jesus, the "Incarnate Word, is fully divine and fully human, in one 'nature' (physis). It is a position held by the Oriental Orthodox Churches and differs from the Chalcedonian position that Jesus is one "person" (Greek: ὑπόστασις) in two "natures" (Greek: φύσεις), a divine nature and a human nature (Dyophysitism).
You see all the above "translations" of Greek words into Latin and after into other languages have caused big issues and shisms in Christianity becouse Greek is much richer language and hard to you find 1 to 1 match. Based on those words the definition of sins and redemption are also based and if the root word is "corrupted" due to translation everything else gets "corrupted" due to that.
A very nice book by a Sientific writer that shows clearly how his deep philosophical desire and quest to knowledge. Highly recommended.
December 28, 2025
The maid was a young woman of great natural calmness; she was accustomed to let in visitors who had this air of being annoyed and finding one umbrella too numerous for them. It mattered nothing to her that the gentleman was asking for Dr. Martineau as if he was asking for something with an unpleasant taste. Almost imperceptibly she relieved him of his umbrella and juggled his hat and coat on to a massive mahogany stand. “What name, Sir?” she asked, holding open the door of the consulting room.
“Hardy,” said the gentleman, and then yielding it reluctantly with its distasteful three-year-old honour, “Sir Richmond Hardy.”
The door closed softly behind him and he found himself in undivided possession of the large indifferent apartment in which the nervous and mental troubles of the outer world eddied for a time on their way to the distinguished specialist. A bowl of daffodils, a handsome bookcase containing bound Victorian magazines and antiquated medical works, some paintings of Scotch scenery, three big armchairs, a buhl clock, and a bronze Dancing Faun, by their want of any collective idea enhanced rather than mitigated the promiscuous disregard of the room. He drifted to the midmost of the three windows and stared out despondently at Harley Street.
For a minute or so he remained as still and limp as an empty jacket on its peg, and then a gust of irritation stirred him.
“Damned fool I was to come here,” he said... “DAMNED fool! “Rush out of the place?...
“I’ve given my name.”.....
“Hardy,” said the gentleman, and then yielding it reluctantly with its distasteful three-year-old honour, “Sir Richmond Hardy.”
The door closed softly behind him and he found himself in undivided possession of the large indifferent apartment in which the nervous and mental troubles of the outer world eddied for a time on their way to the distinguished specialist. A bowl of daffodils, a handsome bookcase containing bound Victorian magazines and antiquated medical works, some paintings of Scotch scenery, three big armchairs, a buhl clock, and a bronze Dancing Faun, by their want of any collective idea enhanced rather than mitigated the promiscuous disregard of the room. He drifted to the midmost of the three windows and stared out despondently at Harley Street.
For a minute or so he remained as still and limp as an empty jacket on its peg, and then a gust of irritation stirred him.
“Damned fool I was to come here,” he said... “DAMNED fool! “Rush out of the place?...
“I’ve given my name.”.....
April 28, 2018
I read this because I’d heard it was about his affair with Margaret Sanger. But it’s really more about an insipid man having a midlife crisis with some interesting ideas (running out of fossil fuels in 1922!) and some ideas that may have been new at the time but are now old (can men and women be friends?). I love H G Wells but this was not his best. And I’ve read a few others of his less famous books. If you want his actual take on (first wave) feminism read Ann Veronica - which I remember as being so much better.
December 4, 2011
Muddle-headed and badly dated. He posits some interesting ideas which are actually true socialism, but on the whole it lacks any sort of thread or clarity. I read it because I had so enjoyed both his science fiction and his comic novels, but 'what a falling-off was there!'
September 30, 2016
A very powerful and thought-inspiring story, with interesting characters dissecting various topics, such as love, motivation, history, culture, and the global well-being of all mankind.
Loved it from start to finish.
Loved it from start to finish.
January 9, 2022
Theology
From the author of many science fiction novel, in this book he explained his theology. Seems the author has his own view on theology, he was on disagreement with all of religious system in the current world, though the most disagreement here directed to the Christianity.
From the author of many science fiction novel, in this book he explained his theology. Seems the author has his own view on theology, he was on disagreement with all of religious system in the current world, though the most disagreement here directed to the Christianity.
May 17, 2012
I think I'll stick to Wells's fiction...
January 24, 2017
Read about 30 pages and decided it wasn't worth the effort. Misery loves company but it won't get mine. Unhappy people should find someone else to write about besides themselves.
December 19, 2021
Claims to be non- UU, but is basically UU
December 3, 2023
Not an unpleasant thing to read, and some interesting thoughts about interpersonal relationships and the nature of love, but in the end it somehow seemed to be completely meaningless.
November 30, 2022
I am not at all religious but I was interested to see how this was written. Lots of thoughts and opinions on religion and god this could be used as a dissertation example.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews