The Man Who Could Work Miracles (story)

"The Man Who Could Work Miracles" is a British fantasy–comedy short story by H. G. Wells first published in 1898 in The Illustrated London News.

Plot summary

In an English public house, The Long Dragon, George McWhirter Fotheringay is engaged in vigorously asserting the impossibility of miracles while arguing with the obnoxious Toddy Beamish. However, after an unintended command of Fotheringay's, an oil lamp does the impossible – flaming upside down. Although it is thought to be a trick, and quickly dismissed by his acquaintances, back home Fotheringay continues to use his new power for other petty uncanny deeds.

Then, after also magically accomplishing his everyday chores as a clerk at Gomshott's office, Fotheringay goes to a park to practise further. However, he has an untimely encounter with a local constable, Winch, who is then accidentally injured. In the ensuing confrontation Fotheringay unintentionally curses him, so the policeman literally goes to Hades; hours later, Fotheringay relocates him safely to San Francisco.

As a result of these and other miracles, Fotheringay decides to attend the local church services on Sunday. He is then moved by the clergyman, Mr. Maydig, as he coincidentally preaches about unnatural occurrences. Fotheringay meets him for advice at his quarters. After few petty demonstrations the priest becomes enthusiastic, suggesting that Fotheringay should do them on behalf of the public; during that night they traverse the town streets, healing the illness and the vice and revamping public works.

The priest then plans to reform the whole world. They could disregard their obligations for the next day, if Fotheringay could stop the night altogether.

Fotheringay does so, stopping the motion of the whole planet Earth. However, his clumsy wording backfires, resulting in all objects on Earth being hurled off the ground without control, "with more force than a cannon shot". As the surface becomes a pandemonium, Fotheringay miraculously ensures his own safety back on the ground.

Fotheringay would not be able to amend such a big mess though, so he repents; for his last two wishes he relinquishes such power forever and he commands a return to the time before he had it. Effectively, this happens: Fotheringay is back in the public house, discussing miracles with his friends as before, without any recollection of the uncanny events.

Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

In 1936, the story was adapted to a film starring Roland Young as Fotheringay. Wells himself co-wrote the screenplay with Lajos Bíró.

It was adapted for BBC Radio in 1959 by Dennis Main Wilson and broadcast on New Year's Day. It starred Tony Hancock as Fotheringay.

Wikisource has original text related to this article: The Man Who Could Work Miracles

External links

• The Man Who Could Work Miracles: short story by H. G. Wells
• The Man Who Could Work Miracles title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database

v t e Works by H. G. Wells Nonfiction Anticipations Certain Personal Matters Crux Ansata The Discovery of the Future An Englishman Looks at the World (U.S. title: Social Forces in England and America) Experiment in Autobiography The Fate of Man First and Last Things Floor Games The Future in America: A Search After Realities God the Invisible King In the Fourth Year Little Wars Mankind in the Making Mind at the End of Its Tether The New America: The New World The New World Order New Worlds for Old The Open Conspiracy The Outline of History Russia in the Shadows The Science of Life A Short History of the World The Story of a Great Schoolmaster This Misery of Boots Travels of a Republican Radical in Search of Hot Water War and the Future (North America: Italy, France and Britain at War) The Work, Wealth and Happiness of Mankind World Brain A Year of Prophesying Novels All Aboard for Ararat Ann Veronica The Autocracy of Mr. Parham Bealby Boon Brynhild The Bulpington of Blup Christina Alberta's Father The Croquet Player The Dream The First Men in the Moon The Food of the Gods and How It Came to Earth The History of Mr Polly The Holy Terror In the Days of the Comet The Invisible Man The Island of Dr Moreau Joan and Peter Kipps Love and Mr Lewisham Marriage Meanwhile Men Like Gods A Modern Utopia Mr. Blettsworthy on Rampole Island Mr. Britling Sees It Through The New Machiavelli The Passionate Friends The Research Magnificent The Sea Lady The Secret Places of the Heart The Shape of Things to Come The Sleeper Awakes The Soul of a Bishop Star-Begotten The Time Machine Tono-Bungay The Undying Fire The War in the Air The War of the Worlds The Wheels of Chance The Wife of Sir Isaac Harman The Wonderful Visit The World of William Clissold The World Set Free Collections The Country of the Blind and Other Stories The Plattner Story and Others Select Conversations with an Uncle The Stolen Bacillus and Other Incidents Tales of Space and Time Twelve Stories and a Dream Short stories "The Beautiful Suit" "The Chronic Argonauts" "The Country of the Blind" "The Crystal Egg" "A Deal in Ostriches" "A Dream of Armageddon" "The Empire of the Ants" "The Land Ironclads" "Mr. Ledbetter's Vacation" "The Lord of the Dynamos" "The Man Who Could Work Miracles" "The New Accelerator" "The Pearl of Love" "The Queer Story of Brownlow's Newspaper" "The Red Room" "The Star" "The Stolen Body" "A Story of the Days to Come" "A Story of the Stone Age" "Triumphs of a Taxidermist" "The Truth About Pyecraft" "A Vision of Judgment" Screenplays Things to Come The Man Who Could Work Miracles The New Faust