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Review
"First electricity. And then telephones. I feel as if I were living in an H G Wells novel." (Dowager Countess of Grantham, ITV's Downton Abbey written by Julian Fellowes )
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
Product Description
Orphaned at an early age, raised by his aunt and uncle, and apprenticed for seven years to a draper, Artie Kipps is stunned to discover upon reading a newspaper advertisement that he is the grandson of a wealthy gentleman - and the inheritor of his fortune. Thrown dramatically into the upper classes, he struggles desperately to learn the etiquette and rules of polite society. But as he soon discovers, becoming a 'true gentleman' is neither as easy nor as desirable as it at first appears.
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First Sentence
Until he was nearly arrived at manhood, it did not become clear to Kipps how it was that he had come into the care of an aunt and uncle instead of having a father and mother like other little boys. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Until he was nearly arrived at manhood, it did not become clear to Kipps how it was that he had come into the care of an aunt and uncle instead of having a father and mother like other little boys. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Kipps is my favourite of H G Wells' "romances" (by which I mean non-science fiction). It is touching, charming and gently humorous - the story of a simple shop apprentice and his rise to riches. I think most of all I love the book because it is set in the area where I grew up - Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh - and I know all the places he refers to. Folkestone Leas is still recognisable from Wells' description 100 years ago. It's not great literature though; rather a straightforward romance with quirky characters and situations; and, in the last section, the book does seem to lose its focus (and some of its charm). Nonetheless it is a gentle warm book and a very pleasant read, particularly if you know that corner of Kent.
6 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio Cassette
This really is a fantastic audiobook.Once started,the end had to be reached.What happens in between is solid entertainment.
Highly recommended listening or reading.
Highly recommended listening or reading.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Brilliantly witty, highly entertaining novel.
5 Jan 2007
Format:Paperback
Kipps was my first excursion into the (very large) world of non-science fiction Wells. Before I received this novel for Christmas, I had never even known that Wells wrote books other than sci-fi. I was already impressed with the well-known books of Wells, such as the Time Machine, War of the Worlds, etc., and was excited to read something of his other works.
Kipps is the story of a lower-class young man who finds out that he has been left a great deal of wealth. With this acquisition, he begins the struggle to learn how to live in the upper-class. Many humorous events take place, as he tries his best to avoid society, and when forced to face it, stumbles and embarrasses himself considerably. Through it all, though, we see a struggling and not-too-smart man doing his best to live a fulfilling life - and learning what it really means to be satisfied.
Wells writing style here is brilliant, filled with a distinctively British humor that I learned to love watching old episodes of Jeeves and Wooster. The characters, their dialog, and the narrator all add to the excellently portrayed humor.
Humor is not the only aspect which makes this novel so great. The very believable plot, with its startling twists and turns, is captivating. At times I nearly wanted to turn ahead in the book to find out what was to happen next. Wells has a tormenting way of hinting about what will happen next, without revealing anything, so that the suspense is heightened even more. I never found the book boring or dry, but always very interesting.
Near the end of the book I encountered a very different passage which deviated from the humor and made a very serious and relevant point. The book's introduction seems to say that this passage nearly ruins the book, but in my opinion it only strengthens the book and deepens its meaning.
If you have yet to experience this side of Wells, I highly encourage you to do so. Not only will you experience the great wit of his, but also his wonderfully British writing style and his interesting points about society which still apply today.
5 stars, through and through.
Kipps is the story of a lower-class young man who finds out that he has been left a great deal of wealth. With this acquisition, he begins the struggle to learn how to live in the upper-class. Many humorous events take place, as he tries his best to avoid society, and when forced to face it, stumbles and embarrasses himself considerably. Through it all, though, we see a struggling and not-too-smart man doing his best to live a fulfilling life - and learning what it really means to be satisfied.
Wells writing style here is brilliant, filled with a distinctively British humor that I learned to love watching old episodes of Jeeves and Wooster. The characters, their dialog, and the narrator all add to the excellently portrayed humor.
Humor is not the only aspect which makes this novel so great. The very believable plot, with its startling twists and turns, is captivating. At times I nearly wanted to turn ahead in the book to find out what was to happen next. Wells has a tormenting way of hinting about what will happen next, without revealing anything, so that the suspense is heightened even more. I never found the book boring or dry, but always very interesting.
Near the end of the book I encountered a very different passage which deviated from the humor and made a very serious and relevant point. The book's introduction seems to say that this passage nearly ruins the book, but in my opinion it only strengthens the book and deepens its meaning.
If you have yet to experience this side of Wells, I highly encourage you to do so. Not only will you experience the great wit of his, but also his wonderfully British writing style and his interesting points about society which still apply today.
5 stars, through and through.
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