The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-29

nings of journalism and the trade of
letters. A glance at the photography
at the back of the book shows that in
his twenty-ninth year he had fov-
books before the public and as many
publishers were serving him. Select
Conversations with an Uncle" eus
ch~aperoned by John Lane Company,
The Time Machine by Heinemann,
THE Stolen Bacillus and Other $40
RES" by Macmillan and THE Wonder
full Visit by Dent. The year follow
ing. 1895, saw the publication of two
moro books; 1927 of still two; 1898
of one: 1899 OF two: 1900 of one; 1901
Of two; 1902 of Two; 1903 of two;
1904 OF one: 1905 Of two; 1906 Of
two; 1907 of two; 1908 of three;
1909 saw the publication OF that
colossal work "Tono-Bungay' and
Ann Veronica; 1910 THE His
tory of Mr.. Polly" and 1.-THE New
M~achiavelli": 1911 THE Country Of
the Blind" Ia republication Of short
s%tories) n Floor Games and $50
cialism and the Great State" "a COM
pilation with only one essay by Mr..
Wells); 1912 Marriage; 1918 1.-THE
. hflh ii'tit
Wars; 1871 An Englishman Looks
at the World" THE World Set Free
and "Sir Isaac Harmon's Wife" So
that In nineteen years Mr. Wells has
produced thirty-eight books; selected
and republished "A volume Of short
stories and contributed the best essay
to a volume on social economies.
Whatever else he may he accused
OF. he has been a faithful and indus
trious writer. His books may readily
be divided into three classes: ro-
mances. novels and studies In social
science. His nan or experiments
with the improbable became as he pro-
ceeded. increasingly involved with the
social problem.
The plain message Of the early
romances, says the author, lis the
necessity for Kidding the mind of ira
ditions. of the hypnotic suggestions
of parents and early teachers. Of the
p%arochial influences Of immediate sur
roundings, of the prejudices and self
interested dogmatisms and hyperboles
of common literature, especially of the
daily and weekly press. in order that
we may. If only for an exercise in
y ItstNtlls 'lNC''l Z VI - "
a moment from all those intimate
forces. and regard life with a calm
ress OF one detached from personal
interests and desires. Nc human being
who has not thus stood apart from
life can claim to have realized him
self: and in SO far as he is unable
thus to separate himself temporarily
from his circumstances he confesses
that he is less a personality than a
bundle Of reactions to familiar stimul
But given tina power of detachment"
the author continues, the reader may
find in these first four books matter
for the reconsideration of the whole
social problem Here indeed we
reach the statement Of Mr.. Wells's
supreme contribution TO literature; he
hoes furnish food for thought.
Whether or not we rank him as a
great artist, whether or not his char
acterizations live for US, at least he
offers meat for the mind. We are led
TO reconsider u creeds and u con-
duct and TO reestimate the ralue to
society of it's established conventions.
All the MISUNDERSTANDING, the weak
nesses. the noisy, meaningless ambitions
the tepid acceptance OF traditional stan.
dards, have been exposed by Mr.. Wells in
these fantasies OF his. | believe that IN
them may be found just those essentials
Of detachment and broad vision which
Nigh, serve to promote a higher and more
stable civilization.
This paragraph as quoted. about
sums up all the present author has
10 say of Mr.. Wells. His summaries
of the later novels are SO very sketchy
as to suggest "A ack OF candor M
mention is made, for example. in Ann
Veronica" of that lady's defiance OF
the marriage law. nor throughout Mr..
Wells's evident distrust of any at
tempt to confine and stabilize the
emotions and passions.
II some Of the books are over
praised. hardly enough is said OF the
worth of "Tono-Bungay," one of the
great novels of this age: Of THE New
Machiavelli," almost as great Il novel,
and Of First and Last Things a
volume of profoundly thoughtful and
stimulating essays. \ little book has
recently been published called The
World Of ii. G.. Wells which con-
tains in the same space as the vol
ume before us fou times as much
real information about his author and
his amazing production.