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賰賷亘爻
Orphaned at an early age, Artie Kipps is stunned to discover upon reading a newspaper that he is the grandson of a wealthy gentleman -- and the inheritor of his fortune. Thrown dramatically into the upper classes, he struggles to learn the etiquette and rules of polite society. But, as he soon discovers, becoming a "true gentleman" is neither as easy nor as desirable as it first appears. Kipps is a hilarious tale of one man's struggle for self-improvement and a witty satire of pretension.
268 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1905
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About the author
H.G. Wells
4,832听books10.7k听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.
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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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
May 11, 2023
A solid satire by H G Wells: ordinary man Kipps inherits, and is thrust, unprepared, into the farcical world of the English gentlemen; a tale in which Wells does not hold back with a cutting satire. 7 out of 12, Three Stars.
2009 read
2009 read
November 12, 2019
A really interesting examination of class and culture in the late 19th century, with great characterisation and moments of humour and poignancy. It has a touch of Great Expectations about it and is definitely my favourite HG Wells so far.
April 6, 2017
This is a story of wealth, manners, society, etiquette, class and social mobility, money, inequality and aspiration鈥�
Whilst initially not seeming light years away from Alfred Polly, the character and story of Arthur Kipps turns out to be something quite, quite different.
Again there are echoes of Dickens here (see Great Expectations in particular) to an extent his style, narrative and in attempting to address and examine socio-economic issues 鈥� but what we have here is something that (the very prolific) H G Wells has created which is very much his own. As with 鈥楾he History of Mr Polly鈥� again it must be stressed that although there are similarities with the Dickensian tradition, it should be stressed that this is neither 鈥楧ickens-lite鈥�, nor some sort of pale imitation or pseudo Dickens work 鈥� far from it. It has also been said that because Wells was writing in a time which was less remote from our own when compared with that of Dickens, that this may make his works easier for the reader to connect with? Whilst there may be some truth in that for some readers, to my mind, the best Dickens novels are very much timeless 鈥� hence one element of his greatness.
What we have here then is an examination and juxtaposition of wealth and the absence wealth, of 鈥榮ociety鈥� and those outside of it, of the 鈥榟aves鈥� and the 鈥榟ave-nots鈥�. This is a great story (a very English story) about the life of our main protagonist, whilst at the same time shining the spotlight on society, on the socio-economic, cultural and political divides. By way of the turn of events, Arthur Kipps undergoes an internal psychological, moral and political struggle and Wells looks here at least to some extent at inequality in society and the barriers (perceived and actual) to social mobility.
I do not share the view of some reviewers that Kipps is merely the subject of ridicule by the author and merely a figure of fun. (Admittedly Kipps is however the subject of ridicule at the hands of other characters). Moreover, the story is narrated by and perceived from the point of view of Arthur Kipps. Here Kipps does become very much the veritable 鈥榝ish out of water鈥� 鈥� but to me Wells is ultimately exposing the pretensions, the confines and the vacuous and shallow bedrock which form the meaningless foundations of what may be considered 鈥榮ociety, manners and etiquette鈥�. The expectations of wealth, society and position; the constraints (both self-inflicted and those imposed by society) of having or not having wealth, influence and power.
The story as told from Kipps perspective is either sympathetic or at the very least ambivalent to his situation, the challenges he faces and his subsequent actions 鈥� regardless of whether these challenges arise out of his own doing or not. Neither do I think that the message here is - 'be happy and content with your lot and station in life' - this novel has far more to it than that.
This is a compelling, engaging and thought provoking novel, which whilst not having quite the same strengths as 鈥楾he History of Mr Polly鈥� (which is a more complete, homogeneous and well-rounded novel) 鈥� nevertheless this is a very strong story and well worth reading.
Whilst initially not seeming light years away from Alfred Polly, the character and story of Arthur Kipps turns out to be something quite, quite different.
Again there are echoes of Dickens here (see Great Expectations in particular) to an extent his style, narrative and in attempting to address and examine socio-economic issues 鈥� but what we have here is something that (the very prolific) H G Wells has created which is very much his own. As with 鈥楾he History of Mr Polly鈥� again it must be stressed that although there are similarities with the Dickensian tradition, it should be stressed that this is neither 鈥楧ickens-lite鈥�, nor some sort of pale imitation or pseudo Dickens work 鈥� far from it. It has also been said that because Wells was writing in a time which was less remote from our own when compared with that of Dickens, that this may make his works easier for the reader to connect with? Whilst there may be some truth in that for some readers, to my mind, the best Dickens novels are very much timeless 鈥� hence one element of his greatness.
What we have here then is an examination and juxtaposition of wealth and the absence wealth, of 鈥榮ociety鈥� and those outside of it, of the 鈥榟aves鈥� and the 鈥榟ave-nots鈥�. This is a great story (a very English story) about the life of our main protagonist, whilst at the same time shining the spotlight on society, on the socio-economic, cultural and political divides. By way of the turn of events, Arthur Kipps undergoes an internal psychological, moral and political struggle and Wells looks here at least to some extent at inequality in society and the barriers (perceived and actual) to social mobility.
I do not share the view of some reviewers that Kipps is merely the subject of ridicule by the author and merely a figure of fun. (Admittedly Kipps is however the subject of ridicule at the hands of other characters). Moreover, the story is narrated by and perceived from the point of view of Arthur Kipps. Here Kipps does become very much the veritable 鈥榝ish out of water鈥� 鈥� but to me Wells is ultimately exposing the pretensions, the confines and the vacuous and shallow bedrock which form the meaningless foundations of what may be considered 鈥榮ociety, manners and etiquette鈥�. The expectations of wealth, society and position; the constraints (both self-inflicted and those imposed by society) of having or not having wealth, influence and power.
The story as told from Kipps perspective is either sympathetic or at the very least ambivalent to his situation, the challenges he faces and his subsequent actions 鈥� regardless of whether these challenges arise out of his own doing or not. Neither do I think that the message here is - 'be happy and content with your lot and station in life' - this novel has far more to it than that.
This is a compelling, engaging and thought provoking novel, which whilst not having quite the same strengths as 鈥楾he History of Mr Polly鈥� (which is a more complete, homogeneous and well-rounded novel) 鈥� nevertheless this is a very strong story and well worth reading.
Read
July 25, 2022This is my favorite so far by the author, and I know very clearly why!
The eponymous Kipps unexpectedly inherits a fortune from his grandfather. Overnight he finds himself no longer struggling and poor but now wealthy. The central question that the book poses is if money brings happiness, and if it does not, what does?
Money and social class are intertwined. And yet, one鈥檚 social class cannot be rapidly changed. Even if one tries to fit in, the chance of being accepted is remote. Perhaps the most essential question is if one really wants to fit in. Old friends and ways of being are not necessarily something one wants to discard.
I like this story for its message. I think it鈥榮 realistically drawn. Although having plenty of money may be fraught with difficulties, being without is certainly no piece of cake either! We see both. We see a couple engaged to be married and then later the ups and downs of a marriage; yes, there is a love story too. I like that the author has us smiling and laughing at how people behave. The humor is at times good natured and at other times, it has a sharp edge. And I like Kipps, although we learn that this is not his real name. He鈥檚 modest, and he鈥檚 generous, and he tries very hard to do what is right. This is fiction, but it does have some autobiographical content.
I knew I had to give the book four stars when I noted that I actually did get upset when calamities hit the fan. I realized I cared what happened to these characters. OK, maybe I am just an empathetic sucker鈥�..
Parts are kind of predictable, but there are some surprises too. We see both London and provincial English life at the turn of the twentieth century. This is quite simply a good story, and it鈥檚 well told. It leaves you happy.
Here is the bad news. Me, I personally disliked the audiobook narration. Sam Kelly narrates the audiobook. The characters originating from the lower classes are given a very thick accent. I often had trouble figuring out what was being said. That they speak in the way they do make sense in the story鈥檚 context, but I dislike not understanding every word! The narrator's thick accent on top of the characters' grammatical errors makes sections almost incomprehensible! I wish I could have read the paper book; I think it would have been easier. If YOU like dramatization, I'm guessing you WILL like the narration. That the upper classes and the lower classes do not express themselves in the same way is an important element of the story. Anyhow, I have given the narration two stars because for me it was just OK.
**
* 4 stars
* 3 stars
* TBR
* 3 stars by
The eponymous Kipps unexpectedly inherits a fortune from his grandfather. Overnight he finds himself no longer struggling and poor but now wealthy. The central question that the book poses is if money brings happiness, and if it does not, what does?
Money and social class are intertwined. And yet, one鈥檚 social class cannot be rapidly changed. Even if one tries to fit in, the chance of being accepted is remote. Perhaps the most essential question is if one really wants to fit in. Old friends and ways of being are not necessarily something one wants to discard.
I like this story for its message. I think it鈥榮 realistically drawn. Although having plenty of money may be fraught with difficulties, being without is certainly no piece of cake either! We see both. We see a couple engaged to be married and then later the ups and downs of a marriage; yes, there is a love story too. I like that the author has us smiling and laughing at how people behave. The humor is at times good natured and at other times, it has a sharp edge. And I like Kipps, although we learn that this is not his real name. He鈥檚 modest, and he鈥檚 generous, and he tries very hard to do what is right. This is fiction, but it does have some autobiographical content.
I knew I had to give the book four stars when I noted that I actually did get upset when calamities hit the fan. I realized I cared what happened to these characters. OK, maybe I am just an empathetic sucker鈥�..
Parts are kind of predictable, but there are some surprises too. We see both London and provincial English life at the turn of the twentieth century. This is quite simply a good story, and it鈥檚 well told. It leaves you happy.
Here is the bad news. Me, I personally disliked the audiobook narration. Sam Kelly narrates the audiobook. The characters originating from the lower classes are given a very thick accent. I often had trouble figuring out what was being said. That they speak in the way they do make sense in the story鈥檚 context, but I dislike not understanding every word! The narrator's thick accent on top of the characters' grammatical errors makes sections almost incomprehensible! I wish I could have read the paper book; I think it would have been easier. If YOU like dramatization, I'm guessing you WILL like the narration. That the upper classes and the lower classes do not express themselves in the same way is an important element of the story. Anyhow, I have given the narration two stars because for me it was just OK.
**
* 4 stars
* 3 stars
* TBR
* 3 stars by
July 15, 2017
I read this book for a very specific reason, which will not be of relevance to too many readers鈥擨 have just bought an apartment in Folkestone, where Kipps is set, and I was curious to read an account of it in its brief late-Victorian moment of glory. Kipps didn鈥檛 disappoint on that front. Wells portrays Folkestone quite vividly, as a wealthy, showy, brittle, snobbish, look-at-me resort town, contrasted with humbler Hythe, where the protagonist feels more at home.
This parochial interest aside, I enjoyed the novel. The plot is a bit throwaway, to the extent that I don鈥檛 think that a spoiler would spoil anyone鈥檚 potential enjoyment of the book 鈥攊t鈥檚 essentially rags to riches to rags to riches, accelerating noticeably at the end. This element of social snakes and ladders enables much close, satirical observation of the dynamics of class, which I suspect was distinctly hard-hitting at the time the novel was published, and which remains historically interesting (at the very least) today.
In the edition in which I read Kipps (Penguin Classics), there was an interesting early appreciation of the novel by Henry James, who was a friend of Wells at the time, though they later fell out. After gushing away for a while about how wonderful the novel is in what sounds suspiciously like a bad parody of himself (鈥淏ut of course you yourself know how immitigably the thing is done鈥攊t is of such a brilliancy of true truth鈥�), James finally makes two specific points about Kipps鈥攖hat it is 鈥渢he first consistently and intelligently ironic or satirical novel鈥� (James contrasts it with Thackeray, whose irony is tainted by 鈥渟entimental or conventional interference鈥�); and that Wells has for the first time treated the English lower middle class without the 鈥減icturesque, the grotesque, the fantastic and romantic interference鈥� he sees in Dickens and George Eliot. Wells has 鈥渉andled its vulgarity鈥� in a 鈥渟cientific & historic spirit, & seen the whole thing all in its own strong light.鈥�
Abstracting from the business about vulgarity鈥攚hich says more about James than Wells鈥擨 think James has a point. Something that is unusual and refreshing in the novel is its humane and sympathetic鈥攖hough immitigably ironic鈥攖ake on characters of a kind who are generally seen in novels of this era as, precisely, 鈥減icturesque鈥� and exotic. Wells鈥檚 mother was a housemaid and he started life, like Kipps, in a drapery store; he knows whereof he speaks.
Apart from its interest from the point of view of social and literary history, Kipps is an engaging read, insouciant in its use of hokey plot devices like coincidence, and generally not taking itself too seriously. Kipps is a good comic character, and Ann鈥攐ne of the women he is involved with鈥攁nother. I laughed out loud reading it a couple of times. The writing is very sharp; I liked a description of Kipps鈥檚 headmaster鈥檚 wife as 鈥渁 small partially effaced woman鈥�, and another of the cough of Kipps鈥檚 social mentor Coote as sounding like 鈥渁 very very old sheep a quarter of a mile away being blown to pieces by a small charge of gunpowder.鈥� I hadn鈥檛 read anything Wells before, but I鈥檒l certainly read more.
This parochial interest aside, I enjoyed the novel. The plot is a bit throwaway, to the extent that I don鈥檛 think that a spoiler would spoil anyone鈥檚 potential enjoyment of the book 鈥攊t鈥檚 essentially rags to riches to rags to riches, accelerating noticeably at the end. This element of social snakes and ladders enables much close, satirical observation of the dynamics of class, which I suspect was distinctly hard-hitting at the time the novel was published, and which remains historically interesting (at the very least) today.
In the edition in which I read Kipps (Penguin Classics), there was an interesting early appreciation of the novel by Henry James, who was a friend of Wells at the time, though they later fell out. After gushing away for a while about how wonderful the novel is in what sounds suspiciously like a bad parody of himself (鈥淏ut of course you yourself know how immitigably the thing is done鈥攊t is of such a brilliancy of true truth鈥�), James finally makes two specific points about Kipps鈥攖hat it is 鈥渢he first consistently and intelligently ironic or satirical novel鈥� (James contrasts it with Thackeray, whose irony is tainted by 鈥渟entimental or conventional interference鈥�); and that Wells has for the first time treated the English lower middle class without the 鈥減icturesque, the grotesque, the fantastic and romantic interference鈥� he sees in Dickens and George Eliot. Wells has 鈥渉andled its vulgarity鈥� in a 鈥渟cientific & historic spirit, & seen the whole thing all in its own strong light.鈥�
Abstracting from the business about vulgarity鈥攚hich says more about James than Wells鈥擨 think James has a point. Something that is unusual and refreshing in the novel is its humane and sympathetic鈥攖hough immitigably ironic鈥攖ake on characters of a kind who are generally seen in novels of this era as, precisely, 鈥減icturesque鈥� and exotic. Wells鈥檚 mother was a housemaid and he started life, like Kipps, in a drapery store; he knows whereof he speaks.
Apart from its interest from the point of view of social and literary history, Kipps is an engaging read, insouciant in its use of hokey plot devices like coincidence, and generally not taking itself too seriously. Kipps is a good comic character, and Ann鈥攐ne of the women he is involved with鈥攁nother. I laughed out loud reading it a couple of times. The writing is very sharp; I liked a description of Kipps鈥檚 headmaster鈥檚 wife as 鈥渁 small partially effaced woman鈥�, and another of the cough of Kipps鈥檚 social mentor Coote as sounding like 鈥渁 very very old sheep a quarter of a mile away being blown to pieces by a small charge of gunpowder.鈥� I hadn鈥檛 read anything Wells before, but I鈥檒l certainly read more.
June 27, 2016
Bis zum Ende bin ich nicht warmgeworden mit dem Buch, obwohl die Story durchaus nicht unspannend ist. Artie Kipps aus der Unterschicht erbt unverhofft sehr viel Geld und wird dadurch automatisch irgendwie zum Mitglied der besseren Gesellschaft, ohne wirklich dazuzugeh枚ren.
Die Sprache des Romans ist extrem geschraubt und gestelzt, kein Wunder das Buch ist ja schon sehr alt, aber es ist mehr als das - das Parlieren in der guten englischen Gentlemen-Gesellschaft und der damit einhergehende Sprachstil, war es, der mir derart geh枚rig auf die Nerven ging. Auch diese wahnwitzigen gesellschaftlichen Konventionen sind zwar beim ersten und zweiten Mal schaurig interessant zu betrachten, wenn sie sich aber durch das ganze Buch ziehen, wird es irgendwann g盲hnend langweilig und man fragt sich "Haben die keine anderen Probleme?". Am meisten gest枚rt hat mich am Ende der Umstand, dass alle wichtigen Ereignisse, in denen ein bisschen Handlung und Drama entstehen, wie z.B. die Informierung des Ziehonkels 眉ber die Erbschaft oder die geplante Heirat oder die Geburt der Tochter ganz geflissentlich nebenbei erw盲hnt werden, wobei die Verwendung der falschen Gabel beim Dinner, irgendein nicht sitzender Knopf am Hemd oder die Nichtannahme einer Einladung raumgreifend und seitenf眉llend endlos lang thematisiert werden und auch noch dar眉ber philosophiert wird. Mir ist schon klar was H.G. Wells damit ausdr眉cken wollte, aber die feine Gesellschaft in ihrer tumben, nichtssagenden, st盲ndig plappernden Nutzlosigkeit gibt f眉r mich einfach nicht genug interessanten Stoff, um sie derart ausf眉hrlich zu betrachten. Das ist laaangweilig.
Die Botschaft, die der Roman vermittelt, hat mir dann wieder gut gefallen, obwohl sie ein bisschen plakativ ist. Artie Kipps geht durch den Betrug eines derartigen Gentlemen bankrott, ist irgendwie froh dar眉ber und wird dadurch endlich aus der feinen Gesellschaft, mit der er so hadert, herauskatapultiert. Unverhofft schl盲gt das Schicksal erneut zu, und die "ehrliche Unterschicht", von der er nie erwartet h盲tte, dass sie siegen k枚nnte, verschafft ihm einen erneuten Erfolg.
Fazit: Die Hintergrundgeschichte finde ich gut die Ausf眉hrung hat mir nicht ganz so gut gefallen, vielleicht schaue ich mir mal die Film- oder Musicalversion an :-)
Die Sprache des Romans ist extrem geschraubt und gestelzt, kein Wunder das Buch ist ja schon sehr alt, aber es ist mehr als das - das Parlieren in der guten englischen Gentlemen-Gesellschaft und der damit einhergehende Sprachstil, war es, der mir derart geh枚rig auf die Nerven ging. Auch diese wahnwitzigen gesellschaftlichen Konventionen sind zwar beim ersten und zweiten Mal schaurig interessant zu betrachten, wenn sie sich aber durch das ganze Buch ziehen, wird es irgendwann g盲hnend langweilig und man fragt sich "Haben die keine anderen Probleme?". Am meisten gest枚rt hat mich am Ende der Umstand, dass alle wichtigen Ereignisse, in denen ein bisschen Handlung und Drama entstehen, wie z.B. die Informierung des Ziehonkels 眉ber die Erbschaft oder die geplante Heirat oder die Geburt der Tochter ganz geflissentlich nebenbei erw盲hnt werden, wobei die Verwendung der falschen Gabel beim Dinner, irgendein nicht sitzender Knopf am Hemd oder die Nichtannahme einer Einladung raumgreifend und seitenf眉llend endlos lang thematisiert werden und auch noch dar眉ber philosophiert wird. Mir ist schon klar was H.G. Wells damit ausdr眉cken wollte, aber die feine Gesellschaft in ihrer tumben, nichtssagenden, st盲ndig plappernden Nutzlosigkeit gibt f眉r mich einfach nicht genug interessanten Stoff, um sie derart ausf眉hrlich zu betrachten. Das ist laaangweilig.
Die Botschaft, die der Roman vermittelt, hat mir dann wieder gut gefallen, obwohl sie ein bisschen plakativ ist. Artie Kipps geht durch den Betrug eines derartigen Gentlemen bankrott, ist irgendwie froh dar眉ber und wird dadurch endlich aus der feinen Gesellschaft, mit der er so hadert, herauskatapultiert. Unverhofft schl盲gt das Schicksal erneut zu, und die "ehrliche Unterschicht", von der er nie erwartet h盲tte, dass sie siegen k枚nnte, verschafft ihm einen erneuten Erfolg.
Fazit: Die Hintergrundgeschichte finde ich gut die Ausf眉hrung hat mir nicht ganz so gut gefallen, vielleicht schaue ich mir mal die Film- oder Musicalversion an :-)
April 19, 2013
I wound up thoroughly enjoying the second half of _Kipps_, where Wells stops his merciless mockery of the eponymous anti-hero and begins instead to poke fun at himself. Favorite lines include Kipps's enthusiastic determination to set himself up as a bookseller because all books are the same -- "If you don't like one book, you take up another; it's not something that really matters, like print dresses or serviettes."
April 11, 2023
St膩sts par to, kas viegli n膩k - tas viegli iet. Misters Kipss p膿k拧艈i ieguvis lielu mantojumu, kas 募auj pak膩pties pa soci膩laj膩m k膩pn膿m, ta膷u vi艈am nav iema艈u k膩 拧膩d膩 sabiedr墨b膩 uzvesties. Kipss gan beig膩s izv膿las apprec膿ties ar soci膩l膩 status膩 zem膩ka sl膩艈a meiteni (draudzeni no b膿rn墨bas), zaud膿 ar墨 gandr墨z visu mantojumu. Pat墨k, ka tom膿r autors visu atrisin膩jis uz pozit墨vas nots, p膿c visiem p膩rdz墨vojumiem, 募aujot iek膩rtot dz墨vi atbilsto拧i un laim墨gi. Bija tie拧膩m aizraujo拧i las墨t.
October 12, 2017
After looking for 'Kipps' in bookstores for about a year, I finally found this book in my university library! I wanted to read it as Tommy Steele in 'Half a Sixpence' is one of my absolute favourite films. So I had to compare it to the original source! What was really cool was the fact that the copy that I read had a beautifully ornate green cover, and had not been checked out of the library since the '70s! I gave that book new life.
I really liked the differences between the book and film/musical. I can understand why some things were omitted in the musical but it was very nice to read that material. I think the Walshinghams were even more insufferable in print than on film! And I had a bad feeling about Chester Coote from the start. Kipps' aunt and uncle were decent, but I preferred him being all on his own as he was in the film.
(SPOILER! I particularly loved the way that the Kippses opened their own bookstore at the end, and how Wells says that Kipps is a real man, and that the reader should go and find him. What a fascinating notion.)
I also loved how some of the dialogue from the movie was ripped directly from the book for the film/play, such as when Artie asked Ann to be his girlfriend ("I wouldn't mind."), when he asked him to marry him ("I've been engaged. I want to be married to you!"), and Artie and Ann's marital argument ("I've improved, why don't you?!"). Even the new iteration of the musical takes a line ("Why do I never get anything right?") and makes an entirely new song out of it.
Anyhow, I think that this is a very underrated book. It took me twenty-two days to read it in between all of my coursework, but if you aren't so busy you can read it much faster than this. It's an easy read, and quite fun. I understand why it was Wells' own favourite book! I highly recommend this book to anyone, especially those who enjoyed Charles Dickens' 'David Copperfield', as it's a bit reminiscent.
That's 5/5 stars from me!
I really liked the differences between the book and film/musical. I can understand why some things were omitted in the musical but it was very nice to read that material. I think the Walshinghams were even more insufferable in print than on film! And I had a bad feeling about Chester Coote from the start. Kipps' aunt and uncle were decent, but I preferred him being all on his own as he was in the film.
(SPOILER! I particularly loved the way that the Kippses opened their own bookstore at the end, and how Wells says that Kipps is a real man, and that the reader should go and find him. What a fascinating notion.)
I also loved how some of the dialogue from the movie was ripped directly from the book for the film/play, such as when Artie asked Ann to be his girlfriend ("I wouldn't mind."), when he asked him to marry him ("I've been engaged. I want to be married to you!"), and Artie and Ann's marital argument ("I've improved, why don't you?!"). Even the new iteration of the musical takes a line ("Why do I never get anything right?") and makes an entirely new song out of it.
Anyhow, I think that this is a very underrated book. It took me twenty-two days to read it in between all of my coursework, but if you aren't so busy you can read it much faster than this. It's an easy read, and quite fun. I understand why it was Wells' own favourite book! I highly recommend this book to anyone, especially those who enjoyed Charles Dickens' 'David Copperfield', as it's a bit reminiscent.
That's 5/5 stars from me!
August 13, 2022
3.5 stars
Another comic novel by Wells, in the same vein as The History of Mr Polly, only not as good.
Another comic novel by Wells, in the same vein as The History of Mr Polly, only not as good.
November 28, 2023
A bit of a strange story, I got the distinct impression that Wells had situations he wanted to include and that he was going to do it come hell or high water.
November 7, 2022
H. G. Wells benim en sevdi臒im bilimkurgu yazarlar谋ndand谋r. Elimi att谋臒谋m b眉t眉n kitaplar谋n谋 soluksuz bir 艧ekilde okumu艧umdur. Kipps di臒er kitaplar谋na nazaran daha farkl谋 bir yerde duruyor 莽眉nk眉 bilimkurgu roman谋 de臒il. Bunun da 枚tesinde kapa臒谋nda belirtildi臒i gibi s谋radan bir adam谋n hikayesini anlat谋yor. S谋n谋f farkl谋l谋klar谋, zengin/fakir ayr谋m谋 陌ngiltere鈥檇e toplumsal hayat derken d枚nemin ufak bir yans谋tmas谋n谋 Kipps karakteri 眉zerinden yap谋yor. Toplumun ikiy眉zl眉l眉臒眉ne, zengin s谋n谋f谋n umursamazl谋臒谋na fazlas谋yla yer veren bir kitap. 鈥楶arayla mutluluk olur mu鈥� sorusunu da bir yerde fazlas谋yla irdeliyor. Kipps鈥檌n 眉st bir s谋n谋fa ait olma 莽abas谋 ama bir yandan da temelini olu艧turdu臒u alt s谋n谋ftan kurtulmay谋 ba艧aramamas谋, g枚rg眉 kurallar谋 kitab谋 okuyarak uyum sa臒lamaya 莽al谋艧mas谋 derken ger莽ek莽i hissi uyand谋rabilen bir karakteri okuyoruz. Bir taraftan da mizahi y枚n眉 verildi臒i i莽in anlat谋lanlar谋n a臒谋rl谋臒谋n谋 aktarmay谋 reddeden bir anlat谋m var. Tesad眉fler, 艧anslar, talih ku艧lar谋 ve birden b眉t眉n眉yle de臒i艧en ya艧amla dolu bir roman. Bana bir k谋s谋mda Martin Eden鈥櫮� bir ba艧ka yerde M眉艧terek Dostumuzu fazlas谋yla an谋msatan bir kitap oldu ve bu iki kitab谋 莽ok sevdi臒imden Kipps鈥檌 s枚n眉k buldu臒umu itiraf etmem gerek. Bir de sonlara do臒ru kitab谋n bir an 枚nce bitmesini beklerken buldum kendimi. Wells鈥檌n bilimkurgular谋n谋 okumaya kesinlikle devam edece臒im ama Kipps tarz谋nda ba艧ka bir eseri varsa muhtemelen es ge莽erim.
Want to read
January 5, 2012Anna says this is Wells parodying Dickens, which sounds FUCKING GREAT, MAN.
Want to read
August 11, 2014Read this book for free through Project Gutenberg:
August 12, 2018
I picked this book having an open mind. I had never heard of it or knew what it was about. The book starts with the main character Arthur Kipps. He's a young orphan living with his aunt and uncle. Through several chapters we learn that he has been an apprentice to a draper for seven years. We also learn that his aunt and uncle live a modest life. They are not wealthy but neither are they poor. This is very important because later on Kipps finds out that he is the grandson of an incredibly wealthy man. With this inheritance he now has to accomodate himself to the life of a wealthy upper class gentleman. The book goes through his experiences with the upper class society and his struggle to fit in. Overall it's an extremely enjoyable book and provides many life lessons.
March 1, 2020
From TIA:
Two part radio dramatisation of H G Wells' novel of the draper's assistant who is bequeathed a fortune.
Raised in the respectable gloom of his uncle's shop and looking forward to a career of unremitting drapery, Kipps finds his life changed by an astonishing bit of luck after being hit by a bicycle. Dramatised by Mike Walker.
Producer/Director John Taylor
Kipps: Bryan Dick
Uncle: Donald Sumpter
Aunt/Mrs Walshingham: Deborah Findlay
Helen: Lesley Vickerage
Shalford: Jonathan Keeble
Chitterlow: Robert Whitelock
Coote: Julian Rhind-Tutt
Young Arthur: Myles Taylor
Young Sid: Jordan Clarke
Young Ann: Megan Jones
Ann: Sinead Matthews
Sid: Simon Balfour
Two part radio dramatisation of H G Wells' novel of the draper's assistant who is bequeathed a fortune.
Raised in the respectable gloom of his uncle's shop and looking forward to a career of unremitting drapery, Kipps finds his life changed by an astonishing bit of luck after being hit by a bicycle. Dramatised by Mike Walker.
Producer/Director John Taylor
Kipps: Bryan Dick
Uncle: Donald Sumpter
Aunt/Mrs Walshingham: Deborah Findlay
Helen: Lesley Vickerage
Shalford: Jonathan Keeble
Chitterlow: Robert Whitelock
Coote: Julian Rhind-Tutt
Young Arthur: Myles Taylor
Young Sid: Jordan Clarke
Young Ann: Megan Jones
Ann: Sinead Matthews
Sid: Simon Balfour
February 27, 2023
賳乇賷 賲賳匕 丕賱賮氐賵賱 丕賱兀賵賱賷 胤賲賵丨 賰賷亘爻 丕賱賲鬲賯丿 丕賱匕賷 丿賮毓丞 丕賱賱賷 賲睾丕丿乇丞 亘賱丿鬲賴 賵賲丿乇爻鬲賴 亘丨孬丕 毓賳 丨賷丕丞 兀賮囟賱 賷毓賲賱 賰賷亘爻 賮賷 賲丨賱 丕賱丕氐賵丕賮 賵賷賲乇 亘賵賯鬲 毓氐賷亘 賮賷 兀爻賮賱 賴乇賲 丕賱丨賷丕丞 丕賱毓賲賱賷丞 賱賷噩丿 賳賮爻丞 亘賷賳 賱賷賱丞 賵囟丨丕賴丕 賵乇賷孬 賱孬乇賵丞 賴丕卅賱丞 賱鬲賲賳丨賴 賴匕賴 丕賱孬乇賵丞 丕賱賮乇氐丞 賱鬲爻賱賯 丕賱賴乇賲 丕賱胤亘賯賷 貙 賵賷丨丕賵賱 兀賳 賷賯丨賲 賳賮爻賴 毓賳賵賴 丕賱胤亘賯丞 丕賱丕乇爻鬲賯乇丕胤賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 賱丕 鬲卮亘賴賴 賵賱丕 賷賳鬲賲賷 廿賱賷賴丕 貙 賳乇賷 賰賷亘爻 賲卮鬲鬲 亘賷賳 丕賱胤亘賯丞 丕賱鬲賷 賷乇賷丿 兀賳 鬲鬲賯亘賱賴 賵 丕賱丨賷丕丞 丕賱亘爻賷胤丞 丕賱毓丕丿賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 賷乇賷丿 兀賳 賷賳毓賲 亘賴丕 賵丕丿乇丕賰丞 兀賳賴賲 賱丕 賷賲賰賳 兀賳 賷兀鬲賷丕 賲毓丕賸 .
乇賵丕賷丞 賲禺鬲賱賮丞 毓賳 兀爻賱賵亘 賵賷賱夭 鬲鬲爻賲 亘丕賱賴丿賵亍 貙 賳丿乇賰 賲賳匕 丕賱氐賮丨丕鬲 丕賱兀賵賱賷丞 鬲兀孬乇 賴.噩.賵賷賱夭 丕賱噩賱賷 亘兀爻賱賵亘 丿賷賰賷賳夭
丨賷孬 兀賳賰 賱賵 賱賲 鬲賯乇兀 兀爻賲 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 賱馗賳賳鬲 兀賳丕 兀丨丿賷 乇賵丕賷丕鬲 丿賷賰賷賳夭 賱賲丕 鬲丨賲賱賴 賲賳 鬲卮丕亘丞 賲毓 兀毓賲丕賱 賲孬賱 丿賷賮賷丿 賰賵亘乇 賮賷賱丿 賵 兀賲丕賱 毓馗賷賲丞 賵賱賰賳賴丕 乇賵丕賷丞 兀噩鬲賲丕毓賷丞 賴丕丿卅丞 賱丕 亘兀爻 亘賴丕 毓 丕賱丕胤賱丕賯 鬲乇賷賳丕 噩丕賳亘 兀禺乇 賲賳 賯賱賲 賵賷賱夭 .
乇賵丕賷丞 賲禺鬲賱賮丞 毓賳 兀爻賱賵亘 賵賷賱夭 鬲鬲爻賲 亘丕賱賴丿賵亍 貙 賳丿乇賰 賲賳匕 丕賱氐賮丨丕鬲 丕賱兀賵賱賷丞 鬲兀孬乇 賴.噩.賵賷賱夭 丕賱噩賱賷 亘兀爻賱賵亘 丿賷賰賷賳夭
丨賷孬 兀賳賰 賱賵 賱賲 鬲賯乇兀 兀爻賲 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 賱馗賳賳鬲 兀賳丕 兀丨丿賷 乇賵丕賷丕鬲 丿賷賰賷賳夭 賱賲丕 鬲丨賲賱賴 賲賳 鬲卮丕亘丞 賲毓 兀毓賲丕賱 賲孬賱 丿賷賮賷丿 賰賵亘乇 賮賷賱丿 賵 兀賲丕賱 毓馗賷賲丞 賵賱賰賳賴丕 乇賵丕賷丞 兀噩鬲賲丕毓賷丞 賴丕丿卅丞 賱丕 亘兀爻 亘賴丕 毓 丕賱丕胤賱丕賯 鬲乇賷賳丕 噩丕賳亘 兀禺乇 賲賳 賯賱賲 賵賷賱夭 .
November 22, 2021
A funny, nuanced accounting of a shop assistant鈥檚 financial rise, fall and eventual rehabilitation. Along the way we experience the realities of attempting to be someone/something we are not. A wonderful novel for detailing the social perils of trying to turn an inheritance into a gentlemanly lifestyle! In particular Wells, who began his working life in a drapery shop, plays on the social and cultural chasm separating the lower middle class from the middle class proper. But he also introduces his thoughts on the moral code that ultimately grounds our hero.
August 18, 2017
乇賵丕賷丞 毓丕丿賷丞 噩丿丕 賱丕 丕毓乇賮 丕賱睾乇囟 賲賳賴丕 丨賷孬 賳鬲毓乇賮 毓賱賶 丕賱賷鬲賷賲 賰賷亘爻 丕賱匕賷 賰丕賳 鬲丨鬲 乇毓丕賷丞 毓賲賴 賵丕賱匕賷 賷丿購禺賱賴 廿賱賶 丕賱賲丿乇爻丞 丕賱丕亘鬲丿丕卅賷 丨賷孬 賷鬲毓乇賮 毓賱賶 丕賱胤賮賱 爻賷丿 賵丕禺鬲賴 兀賳丕 孬賲 賷匕賴亘 亘毓丿 丕賱丕賳鬲賴丕亍 賲賳 丕賱賲丿乇爻丞 丕賱丕亘鬲丿丕卅賷丞 廿賱賶 丿賰丕賳 賱亘賷毓 丕賱兀賯賲卮丞 孬賲 賷賮丕噩兀 亘兀賳賴 賵乇孬 賲賳 噩丿賴 孬乇賵丞 賰亘賷乇丞 賵賷氐亘丨 亘賷賳 賱賷賱丞 賵囟丨丕賴丕 賲賳 丕賱丕睾賳賷丕亍 孬賲 賷丨亘 賮鬲丕丞 鬲丿毓賶 賴賷賱賷賳 賵賱賰賳賴 亘毓丿 賮鬲乇丞 賱丕 賷丨爻 亘兀賷 卮賷 賳丕丨賷鬲賴丕 賵賷毓丕賵丿賴 丨亘賴 丕賱賯丿賷賲 賱丕禺鬲 爻賷丿 丕賱噩賲賷賱丞 兀賳丕 賮賷鬲夭賵噩賴丕 孬賲 鬲爻乇賯 孬乇賵鬲賴 孬賲 賷爻鬲乇噩毓 噩夭亍 賲賳賴丕 孬賲 賷乇夭賯 亘賲賵賱賵丿 賵鬲賳鬲賴賷 丕賱丨賰丕賷丞
July 24, 2022
鈥�"賱丕 賷賲賰賳賰 兀賳 鬲鬲夭賵噩 賰賱 賲賳 鬲賯丕亘賱賴丕 賷丕 賰賷亘爻"..
乇賵丕賷丞 賲禺鬲賱賮丞 毓賳 兀毓賲丕賱 賵賷賱夭 丕賱賲卮亘毓丞 亘丕賱禺賷丕賱 丕賱毓賱賲賷 貙 鬲丨賰賷 丕賱賯氐丞 毓賳 鬲噩乇亘丞 廿噩鬲賲丕毓賷丞 賱卮丕亘 賮賯賷乇 賵賷鬲賷賲 丕爻賲賴 賰賷亘爻 賷乇亘賷賴 毓賲賴貙 爻賷鬲乇賰 丕賱賲丿乇爻丞 賵賷匕賴亘 賱賱毓賲賱 亘賲丨賱 氐賵賮 爻賷氐丕丨亘 兀氐丿賯丕亍 賵賷丨亘 賮鬲丕丞 賷賵毓丿賴丕 兀賳賴 賱賳 賷賳爻丕賴丕 賵賱賰賳 亘賲噩乇丿 兀賳 賷賯丕亘賱 兀禺乇賷丕鬲 賷丨亘賴賳 賵賷亘賯賶 賮賷 丨賷乇丞 賲賳 兀賲乇賴 賵賲卮丕毓乇賴 孬賲 亘丿賵賳 丨爻亘丕賳 鬲賳夭賱 毓賱賷賴 孬乇賵丞 賲賮丕噩兀丞 賱鬲鬲乇賰賴 賮賶 鬲禺亘胤 賲爻鬲賲乇 亘賷賳 丨賷丕丞 丕賱兀睾賳賷丕亍 丕賱鬲賶 賷賵丿 丨卮乇 賳賮爻賴 毓賳賵賴 賮賷賴丕 賵亘賷賳 丨賷丕鬲賴 賵兀氐丿賯丕亍賴 丕賱賯丿丕賲賶 賱匕丕 賱賳 賷賰賮 毓賳 賳毓鬲 賳賮爻賴 亘丕賱兀丨賲賯 賱兀賳賴 丿丕卅賲賸丕 賲丕 賷鬲氐乇賮 亘卮賰賱 禺丕胤卅 賵丿丕卅賲 丕賱卮毓賵乇 亘丕賱囟賷丕毓.
乇賵丕賷丞 賲禺鬲賱賮丞 毓賳 兀毓賲丕賱 賵賷賱夭 丕賱賲卮亘毓丞 亘丕賱禺賷丕賱 丕賱毓賱賲賷 貙 鬲丨賰賷 丕賱賯氐丞 毓賳 鬲噩乇亘丞 廿噩鬲賲丕毓賷丞 賱卮丕亘 賮賯賷乇 賵賷鬲賷賲 丕爻賲賴 賰賷亘爻 賷乇亘賷賴 毓賲賴貙 爻賷鬲乇賰 丕賱賲丿乇爻丞 賵賷匕賴亘 賱賱毓賲賱 亘賲丨賱 氐賵賮 爻賷氐丕丨亘 兀氐丿賯丕亍 賵賷丨亘 賮鬲丕丞 賷賵毓丿賴丕 兀賳賴 賱賳 賷賳爻丕賴丕 賵賱賰賳 亘賲噩乇丿 兀賳 賷賯丕亘賱 兀禺乇賷丕鬲 賷丨亘賴賳 賵賷亘賯賶 賮賷 丨賷乇丞 賲賳 兀賲乇賴 賵賲卮丕毓乇賴 孬賲 亘丿賵賳 丨爻亘丕賳 鬲賳夭賱 毓賱賷賴 孬乇賵丞 賲賮丕噩兀丞 賱鬲鬲乇賰賴 賮賶 鬲禺亘胤 賲爻鬲賲乇 亘賷賳 丨賷丕丞 丕賱兀睾賳賷丕亍 丕賱鬲賶 賷賵丿 丨卮乇 賳賮爻賴 毓賳賵賴 賮賷賴丕 賵亘賷賳 丨賷丕鬲賴 賵兀氐丿賯丕亍賴 丕賱賯丿丕賲賶 賱匕丕 賱賳 賷賰賮 毓賳 賳毓鬲 賳賮爻賴 亘丕賱兀丨賲賯 賱兀賳賴 丿丕卅賲賸丕 賲丕 賷鬲氐乇賮 亘卮賰賱 禺丕胤卅 賵丿丕卅賲 丕賱卮毓賵乇 亘丕賱囟賷丕毓.
January 25, 2025
I only read this because I found out that the musical 鈥淗alf a Sixpence鈥� is based on it. This is not your usual H. G. Wells novel but is a great look at social and class distinctions in England in the late 19th century. It was slow going at times but I鈥檓 glad I stuck with it to the end.
September 3, 2021
Very nice read. Enjoyed it a lot while also listening to the audiobook narrated by Sam Kelly, it gave that authentic British atmosphere, with all the accents and dialects
Read
October 26, 2021Managed to get through 44% before we were discussing it in class, so I鈥檓 logging it as if I鈥檝e finished it, sue me!
July 23, 2020
乇賵丕賷丞 賰賱丕爻賷賰 賲賳 乇賵丕賷丕鬲 H.G. Wells
賱賴 乇賵丕賷丕鬲 丕賰孬乇 賲賳賴丕 卮賴乇丞 賵 丕孬丕乇丞
賴賶 乇賵丕賷丞 丕噩鬲賲丕毓賷丞 賵 賱賷爻鬲 禺賷丕賱 毓賱賲賶 賰賲丕 賴賵 賲毓鬲丕丿 賲賳賴
賷賯丕賱 丕賳賴 爻賷乇鬲賴 丕賱匕丕鬲賷丞 賵 丕賱鬲賳賯賱 賲丕 亘賷賳 丕賱賮賯乇 孬賲 丕賱睾賳賶 孬賲 丕賱賮賯乇 孬賲 丕賱睾賳賷
丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 丕噩鬲賲丕毓賷丞 丨亘賰鬲賴丕 亘爻賷胤丞 噩丿丕 賷毓賷亘賴丕 丕賱鬲胤賵賷賱 賵 丕賱賲賱賱 丕賱匕賶 賷氐賷亘 乇賵丕賷丕鬲 丕賱丕丿亘 丕賱丕賳噩賱賷夭賶 賮賶 匕賱賰 丕賱毓氐乇
賱亘爻賴賲 賵 丨賮賱丕鬲 卮丕賶 賲賲賱丞 賱賱胤亘賯丞 丿賶 ...
賵 賱匕賱賰 鬲爻鬲賯 2.5 / 5
賵 賱毓丿 賵噩賵丿 丕賳氐丕賮 賳噩賵賲 鬲兀禺匕 3 / 5
丕賱賰鬲丕亘 丕賱賯丕丿賲 :
賱賴 乇賵丕賷丕鬲 丕賰孬乇 賲賳賴丕 卮賴乇丞 賵 丕孬丕乇丞
賴賶 乇賵丕賷丞 丕噩鬲賲丕毓賷丞 賵 賱賷爻鬲 禺賷丕賱 毓賱賲賶 賰賲丕 賴賵 賲毓鬲丕丿 賲賳賴
賷賯丕賱 丕賳賴 爻賷乇鬲賴 丕賱匕丕鬲賷丞 賵 丕賱鬲賳賯賱 賲丕 亘賷賳 丕賱賮賯乇 孬賲 丕賱睾賳賶 孬賲 丕賱賮賯乇 孬賲 丕賱睾賳賷
丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 丕噩鬲賲丕毓賷丞 丨亘賰鬲賴丕 亘爻賷胤丞 噩丿丕 賷毓賷亘賴丕 丕賱鬲胤賵賷賱 賵 丕賱賲賱賱 丕賱匕賶 賷氐賷亘 乇賵丕賷丕鬲 丕賱丕丿亘 丕賱丕賳噩賱賷夭賶 賮賶 匕賱賰 丕賱毓氐乇
賱亘爻賴賲 賵 丨賮賱丕鬲 卮丕賶 賲賲賱丞 賱賱胤亘賯丞 丿賶 ...
賵 賱匕賱賰 鬲爻鬲賯 2.5 / 5
賵 賱毓丿 賵噩賵丿 丕賳氐丕賮 賳噩賵賲 鬲兀禺匕 3 / 5
丕賱賰鬲丕亘 丕賱賯丕丿賲 :
February 6, 2017
I read this as I had been to see the new production of Half A Sixpence and wanted to read the source material. It is really interesting to read it and see which parts have been taken out from all versions of the musical and additionally which parts have been put into the new version. I thoroughly enjoyed the musical and enjoyed most of the novel.
I had only ever read the science fiction works of Wells so this was a big change. It is a real insight into the turn of the century period and I feel I was guided through the town of Folkestone. Unsurprisingly it is a lot more political than the musical and most of this gave the novel more depth. The characters of Anne and Helen are very much there to help us understand Kipps and could do with more development -- something that does happen in the new version of the musical. This is possible because of the autobiographical element of Kipps but fuller characterisation of the secondary characters would have benefitted the novel.
The parts in London were great and an effective contrast with Folkestone. Still not sure what I feel about the end of the novel but overall I really enjoyed the novel.
I had only ever read the science fiction works of Wells so this was a big change. It is a real insight into the turn of the century period and I feel I was guided through the town of Folkestone. Unsurprisingly it is a lot more political than the musical and most of this gave the novel more depth. The characters of Anne and Helen are very much there to help us understand Kipps and could do with more development -- something that does happen in the new version of the musical. This is possible because of the autobiographical element of Kipps but fuller characterisation of the secondary characters would have benefitted the novel.
The parts in London were great and an effective contrast with Folkestone. Still not sure what I feel about the end of the novel but overall I really enjoyed the novel.
December 7, 2013
On the surface this may seem like a satiric and stilted tale of an "everyman", but as I took it in and reflected on the story, it seems more a deeply personal journey in reaching some level of self-actualization amidst confusing and overbearing social pressures. Set around the early 20th century in Great Britain, Arthur Kipps experiences the everyday challenges of boredom and the relentless tortures of social expectations as he's growing up, and as a young man faces the harsh realities of barely making a living with the unforgiving callousness of post-industrial capitalism. Existing near the lower rung of the middle class, he becomes well acclimated to what his life is to be like and how he is to behave. But by happenstance, his circumstances change dramatically, and he must face the stresses of a different type with an opportunity to pull himself up to, as the they call it, a "higher class" of people. Kipps, in his neurosis and ability to dredge himself through many a blundering crisis, must travel a varied road of challenges to learn for himself, finally, who he really is.
June 29, 2016
In actuality, I stopped reading around page 50. I'm an H.G. Wells fan, and grabbed this without reading the description, because the book could have been about anything and I would have tried it. BUT, this book was just. so. boring.
I wanted to like it, but nothing happened, not really, just endless paragraphs of narration about this boring guy named Kipps. About his childhood, in which nothing really happens. And then of his schooling, where nothing really happens either. On page 22 there's an actual scene. An actual scene! And I thought, "okay, here we go", but then a few pages later the whole idea just putters out, and it goes back to boring narration. Then Kipps gets a job (mind you, he's still maybe 16 here) at a haberdashery in another city, and I thought, "okay, here we go" and it was just so, so boring.
So I gave up.
I will continue to read HG Wells books, but not this one. And it sucks that I'm getting rid of it, as it's a really good copy of a third edition, printed 90 years ago, and looks great on my shelf. LOL
I wanted to like it, but nothing happened, not really, just endless paragraphs of narration about this boring guy named Kipps. About his childhood, in which nothing really happens. And then of his schooling, where nothing really happens either. On page 22 there's an actual scene. An actual scene! And I thought, "okay, here we go", but then a few pages later the whole idea just putters out, and it goes back to boring narration. Then Kipps gets a job (mind you, he's still maybe 16 here) at a haberdashery in another city, and I thought, "okay, here we go" and it was just so, so boring.
So I gave up.
I will continue to read HG Wells books, but not this one. And it sucks that I'm getting rid of it, as it's a really good copy of a third edition, printed 90 years ago, and looks great on my shelf. LOL
June 18, 2015
HGW is pitiless in his portrayal of the emptiness of contemporary middle class pretension. This compares with honest "what you see is what you get" socialism.
Arthur Kipps gets off to a bad start. He's a "love child" passed on to an aunt and uncle to rear and then apprentice to the drudgery of the Drapery trade. His luck improves however when he gets rich quick but then must learn how to behave "proper" -ie as a "gentleman". He makes a dogs breakfast of it. Artie is a silly little rich boy/man and Wells sadistically makes him suffer for it. This is until he sees the light and can start to be true to himself and cast off the shackles of convention as the irrelevance we'd all like it to be.
Arthur Kipps gets off to a bad start. He's a "love child" passed on to an aunt and uncle to rear and then apprentice to the drudgery of the Drapery trade. His luck improves however when he gets rich quick but then must learn how to behave "proper" -ie as a "gentleman". He makes a dogs breakfast of it. Artie is a silly little rich boy/man and Wells sadistically makes him suffer for it. This is until he sees the light and can start to be true to himself and cast off the shackles of convention as the irrelevance we'd all like it to be.
July 17, 2016
not sure about hilarious- but it has some funny moments. The attempt at accents is a bit clumsy and it comes across as very dated.
I did read it for local interest as well as to see what HG Wells wrote outside science fiction.
It did show how much class is less defined than it was in the past but in many ways its is just as hierarchical and divided.
I did read it for local interest as well as to see what HG Wells wrote outside science fiction.
It did show how much class is less defined than it was in the past but in many ways its is just as hierarchical and divided.
September 7, 2017
乇賵丕賷丞 乇丕卅毓丞 賵賰賱賴丕 毓亘乇 賵賲賵丕毓馗 丕賵賱賴丕 丕賳 丕賱賲丕賱 丕賱爻賴賱 賲孬賱賲丕 賷丕鬲賷 亘爻賴賵賱丞 賷匕賴亘 亘爻賴賵賱丞
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賵賰匕賱賰 鬲賳胤亘賯 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賲毓 丕賳 丕賱賳丕爻 禺賱賯賵丕 丿乇噩丕鬲 賮賲孬賱丕 丕賱賮賯賷乇 毓賳丿賲丕 賷氐亘丨 賮噩丕丞 睾賳賷丕 賮賱賷爻 卮賷卅丕 爻賴賱丕 亘丕賱賳爻亘丞 賱賴 賱丕賳賴 賷丨鬲丕噩 丕賱賶 賲賳 賷乇卮丿賴 賮賷 丕爻鬲禺丿丕賲 丕賱賲丕賱
丕毓鬲賯丿 丕賳 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 丕亘丿毓 亘賴匕賴 丕賱賵乇丕賷丞 賵賵囟毓 丕賱賰孬賷乇 丕賱賰孬賷乇 賲賳 丕賱丿乇賵爻 丕賱賲爻鬲賮丕丿丞
賵丕賷囟丕 丕賱丕賳爻丕賳 賷噩亘 丕賳 賷鬲亘毓 賯賱亘賴 丕丨賷丕賳丕 毓賳丿賲丕 賷鬲毓賱賯 丕賱丕賲乇 亘丨亘 丨賷丕鬲賴
賵賰匕賱賰 鬲賳胤亘賯 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賲毓 丕賳 丕賱賳丕爻 禺賱賯賵丕 丿乇噩丕鬲 賮賲孬賱丕 丕賱賮賯賷乇 毓賳丿賲丕 賷氐亘丨 賮噩丕丞 睾賳賷丕 賮賱賷爻 卮賷卅丕 爻賴賱丕 亘丕賱賳爻亘丞 賱賴 賱丕賳賴 賷丨鬲丕噩 丕賱賶 賲賳 賷乇卮丿賴 賮賷 丕爻鬲禺丿丕賲 丕賱賲丕賱
丕毓鬲賯丿 丕賳 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 丕亘丿毓 亘賴匕賴 丕賱賵乇丕賷丞 賵賵囟毓 丕賱賰孬賷乇 丕賱賰孬賷乇 賲賳 丕賱丿乇賵爻 丕賱賲爻鬲賮丕丿丞
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