Dive headfirst into this gorgeously romantic and satirical novel which reveals a different side to the father of sci-fi. When young Ellen Sawbridge meets wealthy Isaac Harman, she charitably agrees to marry him. Despite great wealth, their marriage, bereft of love, falls into greater turmoil when the miserable Ellen is courted by the kind George Brumley. What ensues is a captivating romantic drama teeming with tension, humour, and death. Who will Ellen choose? A timeless battle of the sexes story featuring a love triangle and plenty of feminist themes, ‘The Wife of Sir Isaac Harman’ is the perfect read for fans of Netflix's ́Persuasion ́. H. G. Wells (1866-1946) was an English author and Noble Prize in Literature nominee, prolific across several genres, and celebrated as the "father of science fiction". His notable science fiction works include the blockbuster hit adaptation ‘The Time Machine’, ‘The Invisible Man’, ‘The War of the Worlds’, and ‘When the Sleeper Walks’. Wells remains a significant influence on the sci-fi genre today.

This is the annotated edition including the rare biographical essay by Edwin E. Slosson called "H. G. Wells - A Major Prophet Of His Time". Lady Harman is simply one more girl married rather prematurely to a man much too old for her and in blind ignorance of the obligations that she is incurring. Sir Isaac is an equally common type, rather medieval in his attitude toward women, with clear convictions as to a man's property rights in a wife. Furthermore, Sir Isaac is jealous, and during the first six years of their marriage he has contrived, not only that his wife shall form no intimate friendships with other women, but that she shall never enjoy two minutes of uninterrupted private conversation with any man other than himself. Consequently, the adventure with which this chronicle opens, when Lady Harman, chaperoned solely by her chauffeur, inspects a country house that is offered for sale, and incidentally makes the acquaintance of its owner, the novelist, George Bromley, author of the "Euphemia Books," opens a crucial epoch in her life. It is her first actual contact with the world of art and letters, her first experience of any life other than staid, conventional, iron-clad conservatism. The seeds of rebellion have long been germinating within her, and undoubtedly would have borne fruit sooner or later; but it is this meeting with Bromley that hastens events, encourages her to defy her husband's commands and make the acquaintance of women of the advanced type …

Excerpt from The Wife of Sir Isaac Harman The little house with the white framed windows looked at her with a sleepy wakefulness from under its blinds, and made no sign. Beyond the corner was a glimpse of lawn, a rank of delphiniums, and the sound of a wheel-barrow. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

This novel follows the young Ellen Sawbridge from her early marriage through her gradual political, social and personal awakening. Married at 18 to a successful business man, Isaac Harman, she swaps a life of genteel poverty for one of luxury with little or no freedom. Her husband sees marriage as a bargain: he surrounds her with luxury, and, in turn, she should be acquiescent and well behaved. However she begins to have doubts about her husband's business practices and her own position: she has little freedom and no money of her own. She looks for a house in the country to escape these pressures, which is where she meets Mr Brumley. He is infatuated, and, through him, she receives invitations into society where she comes into contact with new ideas and current political movements. Her husband is jealous and suspicious of her new friends and her gradually awakening desire for freedom and autonomy. She resorts to desperate measures, getting so she can have time alone to think. Her husband gives way and allows her more freedom and income so long as there are no more scandals. After his death she is able to pursue her socialist endeavours with varying results.