Tono-Bungay
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Author | H. G. Wells |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Novel |
| Publisher | Macmillan |
| Released | 1909 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| ISBN | NA |
Tono-Bungay (1909), by H. G. Wells, is an ever-popular biographical novel. It follows the narrative of George Ponderevo, an aspiring student of science, who is drawn to the lure of the advertising world. He is drafted in to help the propagation of Tono-Bungay, a harmful stimulant disguised as a miraculous cure-all, the creation of his enigmatic and ambitious uncle Edward. As the tonic prospers, George experiences a swift rise in social status, elevating him to riches and opportunities that he had never imagined, nor indeed desired.
The novel also displays the nature of the Edwardian social-climber, and satirises the class system of the period. The lead character is unwittingly thrust into a wide range of settings, and constantly struggles to adapt to their nuances, from his mother's lowly position of servitude in the splendid Bladesover House to the formalities of his later encounters with dignitaries of the time.
Tono-Bungay focuses finally on relationships, as seen through the eyes of George. The book was written in a time when there was much taboo about the nature of love, especially for one like the troubled hero, who constantly struggles against his status in the pursuit of more affluent women.
[edit] External links
- Tono Bungay, available at Project Gutenberg.
