Customer Reviews

The Wheels of Chance (Large Print Edition)

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Posterity has not been kind to H.G. Wells. It's true that his name is still one of the most easily recognizable in the literary world, but since his death in 1946 his contributions to mainstream writing, feminism, and politics (he wrote the United Nations charter) have been all but forgotten--instead he has simply become known as a "science fiction writer," a reputation based on a handful of novels written early in his career. Books like "The Time Machine" and "The War of the Worlds" are indeed marvelous, and are the key texts in the development of modern science fiction; but to limit Wells's accomplishment to these books borders on calumny. Wells was one of the major writers of the past hundred years, with an oeuvre so vast and varied a reader could spend a lifetime working through it all. There is truly something for everyone in the work of H.G. Wells.

"The Wheels of Chance" is a classic example. This pitch-perfect tale of a Mr. Hoopdriver, who undertakes a bicycling tour of the English countryside, has to be one of the most charming light novels ever written. Mr. Hoopdriver's holiday from his job as a draper's assistant (a job Wells himself held in his youth) becomes a kind of lighthearted spiritual quest, as he meets and falls in love with the rebellious Jessie Milton ("the Lady in Grey"), an early "New Woman"--a proto-feminist, one might say--whose daring elopement with a much older man has gone disastrously awry. Can Mr. Hoopdriver save her? Can Jessie salvage her reputation? These questions are answered in a tale which combines glorious descriptions of the pastoral England of a century ago with uproarious scenes of early bicycling and bicyclists. And yet this "Bicycling Idyll," as it is subtitled, also carries with it a genuine poignancy--we are always aware that the characters' journey must eventually end, just as, with the coming of the automobile, the world Wells described here ended.

"The Wheels of Chance" is brief, easy-to-read, and highly memorable. Indeed, it is surprising that this fast-moving, picaresque novel has never been filmed--a company like Merchant-Ivory could do a glorious job with it. In addition to being extraordinarily entertaining, "The Wheels of Chance" can also serve as an ideal introduction to the "other" novels of the man so many of us think of simply as a "science fiction writer." And the best fact of all is that, if the reader enjoys "The Wheels of Chance," there is a huge wealth of Wells fiction available for further enjoyment.

This early H.G. Wells' tale is about a 20-something year old man who has a job as a draper's assistant, a job which he is probably too old for. Loaded with poor self esteem and a second class status, poor Mr. Hoopdriver takes a ten day holiday. On this holiday he falls for a young socialite named Jessie who is rebelling against her stepmother and society. The tale has many interesting insights into the "proper" behavior of a British socialite. For example, late in the story one of Wells' characters says you must live fearlessly and honestly, but only as long as you do what everyone else expects of you and avoid doing extravagent things. The tale is also funny at times as it describes early bike riders trying to ride poorly designed bicycles. Though generally easy enough to read and follow, there are times when some words will baffel the reader.

H.G.Wells was himself a cyclist. This comes through well in his Wheels of Chance, his first novel published in 1896. The plot has appeal, but the greater appeal of this book is its social history of cycling in Britain.

In 2006, as a cyclist and author, I rode from Lands End to John o'Groats - the length of Britain. I frequently thought what a wonderful country Britain would have been pre all those dreadful M roads. H.G. Wells tells, superbly, what it was like.

This is a much quoted book amongst 21st-century cyclists. For me it was great to read all the familiar quotes within their intended context. Wheels of Chance is a book for every cyclists' book shelf. Thankfully cyclists are typically prolific readers.

Follow Mr. Hoopdriver as he goes on a bicycling excursion through southern England in the 1890's. The language is difficult at times, but the laughs are huge. An interesting window into Victorian morality and social status in these early days of cycling.

I had great hope that The Wheels of Chance would be the equal of Three Men on the Bummel, Jerome K. Jerome's classic road novel about three friends on a cycling vacation, written just four years after Wells published The Wheels of Chance. However, Wells lacks Jerome's gift for comedy and The Wheels of Chance is an awkward book.

Wells has no evident affection for Hoopdriver, his protagonist, or Jessie, the woman who accompanies him on much of his travels. The jokes however are not specific to Hoopdriver or Jessie -- Wells thinks it funny that working class men should aspire to intellectual lives, or that women should want lives out of the home. He disdains his characters and expects us to laugh at what are essentially noble aspirations.

There is a particularly jarring bit of text on page 179 of my edition:
"There are no graver or more solemn women in the world than these clever girls whose scholastic advancement has retarded their feminine coquetry."

I found some humor in the discussion of Jessie's stepmother and her entourage, though Wells's contempt for lady novelists almost overwhelms it.

Some of the language and situations are dated (For example, Hoopdriver is thrilled and scandalized to discover that Jessie has RATIONALS [caps in the original], which is to say that she is wearing pants). There are casual reference to a Miss Lynn Linton and a "Strephon", names that meant nothing to me. (Anticipating the responses this post will get, yes I know that Linton has a wikipedia page. That doesn't change the fact that her name was a dated reference.)

There are several printings of this H.G. Wells novel sold by Amazon and the Valde Books printing is the best. I bought this Create Space book first because I liked the cover but the printing was in Swiss/Arial sans serif and very hard to read so I returned it and bought the other one instead. Valde is a good printer and I am very happy with my copy of this story!

This is what it says it is: a public domain text with navigation that allows the user to easily navigate the entire book, providing forward, backward and cross links to every section of the book. Most public domain texts (and far too many new texts) are just plain texts rendered into the Kindle format. This text was carefully constructed to fit the structure of this book.

I found this little novel a delight. A funny account of a shy, odd fellow transported into a Walter Mitty world on a bicycling tour. Wells paints a great picture of the main character, Mr. Hoopdriver, who thinks he is a master of the bicycle. Many funny "on the road" meetings with some romantic twists. A book that will be an easy read because you will not want to put it down. The British terminology of the 19th century may throw you a curve now and then, but it will not dampen your enjoyment. Wells was an avid cyclist. I am sure some of his peers thought little of the activity. Wells once excitedly asked his fellow writing peer, Stephen Crane, to be sure and read it. Crane dreaded the thought! But if you are not like Crane, which is likely, you will enjoy this whimsical story, whether a cycling fan or not.

A great read, H.G. Wells before his sci-fi career. A fun story of English bicycle touring pre-automobile days. Characters cover a range of classes, emotions and imaginations. Somewhat humorous. Fun line drawing illustrations. Author set the story in Southern England and some of the places (hotels, Pubs..etc.) still exist.