The History of Mr Polly
A comic novel about an antihero who finds serenity through misadventure.
The History of Mr. Polly is a 1910 comic novel by H. G. Wells. It follows the life of an antihero inspired by Wells's early experiences in the drapery trade. The novel is noted for its humorous language and its portrayal of a bumbling protagonist who ultimately finds contentment.
Quick Facts
- Author
- H. G. Wells
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Language
- English
- Genre
- Comedy novel
- Publisher
- Thomas Nelson and Sons
- Released
- 1910
- Pages
- 318
- Wikisource
- The History of Mr. Polly
Facts from the source article.
Synopsis
The novel begins with Alfred Polly miserable in the imaginary town of Fishbourne, Kent. He hates his shop, his wife, and his neighbors. The story then divides into three parts. Chapters 1–6 cover his life up to age twenty, when he marries his cousin Miriam Larkins and opens an outfitter's shop. Chapters 7–8 depict his spectacular suicide attempt, which ironically makes him a local hero, wins him insurance money, and leads him to realize that Fishbourne is not the world. He abandons his shop and wife. Chapters 9–10, set at the Potwell Inn, show his courageous victory over Uncle Jim, a malicious relative of the innkeeper's granddaughter. An epilogue shows Mr. Polly at ease as assistant-innkeeper after a brief visit to confirm Miriam's prosperity.
Themes
The principal conflict is Mr. Polly's struggle with life, told in the full-blooded Dickens tradition. This moral struggle develops slowly, as Mr. Polly is a stunted character, not gifted or self-confident. He has imagination and a flair for language, but his mind is at once too vivid in its impressions and too easily fatigued. His mother dies when he is seven, and his formal education ends at fourteen. His unsympathetic father apprentices him to The Port Burdock Drapery Bazaar. Unsatisfied, he leaves for London and works in Canterbury, whose cathedral pleases him greatly. Mr. Polly's struggles are chiefly moral; he has no confidence in his intellectual powers, though he is an avid reader, and his emotions are confused and timid. The reader is invited to see things from his point of view, even when he commits arson and perhaps manslaughter. Wells's moral point of view is complex and ironic, as Mr. Polly's musings at the end suggest: one starts in life expecting something, and it does not happen, and it does not matter.
Criticism
The novel was widely praised by critics, with H. L. Mencken writing a favorable review in The Smart Set in July 1910. It has been described as "a complete comic miracle," and its protagonist as a wonderful version of what Wells might have become without schooling, muddling his words delightfully. Wells, however, stated that the character was inspired by his older brother Frank, not himself. Robert McCrum later included the book on The Guardian's list of the 100 best English novels.
Adaptations
The novel has been adapted for the screen several times. A 1949 film, directed by Anthony Pellisier, cast John Mills as the title character. The BBC produced a six-part television serial in 1959 with Emrys Jones, though that version is now lost, and a five-part serial in 1980 starring Andrew Sachs. Lee Evans played Polly in a feature-length ITV adaptation broadcast in May 2007. A two-part radio dramatisation by Stephen Sheridan aired on BBC Radio 4 in January and February 2025, with Stephen Mangan narrating and Paul Ready as Alfred Polly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who published The History of Mr Polly?
The History of Mr Polly was published by Thomas Nelson and Sons.
How many pages is The History of Mr Polly?
The History of Mr Polly has 318 pages.
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