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THE WHEELS OF CHANCE - A Holiday Adventure
THE WHEELS OF CHANCE - A Holiday Adventure
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When Nathaniel Hawthorne published "The House of the Seven Gables" he earned the distinction of having produced from materials no more dramatic than an old man, an old woman, and an old house, one of the most masterly romances of our time.
H. G. Wells has endeavoured to interest us in the perhaps even more commonplace character of a draper's assistant, but with certain makeweights such as a modern lady novelist, her wayward daughter, a would-be Lothario, and sundry bicycles. The said draper's assistant is a simple-hearted fellow enough, whose instincts are gentlemanly if his accent is Cockney and his intellect distinctly circumscribed; on the whole he is a consistent and artistic creation, and more true to life than some of the minor personages in the narrative.
As a cycling story this is the most able and ambitious that has yet seen the light, which means so little, however, that it may savor injustice to "The Wheels of Chance" to place it in that gallery at all since it very well may be quite the best novel that has ever been inspired by the cult of the bicycle wheel. Nothing could be more hopelessly unromantic than the materials of the story,—the poor, weedy little draper's assistant out for his ten days' holiday, and the silly young Jady in rational dress, who is resolved to Live her Life, and consents to what is practically an elopement with an unscrupulous married man. But H. G. Wells is a true magician; his story is more than a mere tour deforce; and the little draper, spite of his twang and his cheap suit, his ridiculous manners, and his mean presence, is no "cad on castors," but a real knight-errant, for whom we have a sneaking liking at the outset, and at the last, a feeling that is very near affection.
Little Mr. Hoopdriver is a figure at once diverting and pathetic. His struggles with his machine in the early stages of his memorable journey, and the reckless mendacities in which he indulges with a view to impress Miss Milton, are immensely funny; but in the end one parts from the little man with a lump in one's throat. He has played the part of the 'deus ex machina' — in a literal
sense—with such pluck and nerve that he might well be pardoned for dreaming that the fair maiden whom he rescued from the ogre might reward him with her hand. Mr. Hoopdriver has to go back "to the early rising, the dusting, and drudgery," but it is with a difference, "with wonderful memories and still more wonderful desires and ambitions."
* * *
The illustrations, for the most part in this e-book edition, are excellent, as is to be expected from such conscientious publishers as Macmillan of New York, and J. M. Dent of London.
* * * * * * *
Forty Illustrations by J. Ayton Symington as they appeared in the first edition of 1896.
Capitalized words and phrases have been reverted back to italics as used the original hard copy edition.
H. G. Wells has endeavoured to interest us in the perhaps even more commonplace character of a draper's assistant, but with certain makeweights such as a modern lady novelist, her wayward daughter, a would-be Lothario, and sundry bicycles. The said draper's assistant is a simple-hearted fellow enough, whose instincts are gentlemanly if his accent is Cockney and his intellect distinctly circumscribed; on the whole he is a consistent and artistic creation, and more true to life than some of the minor personages in the narrative.
As a cycling story this is the most able and ambitious that has yet seen the light, which means so little, however, that it may savor injustice to "The Wheels of Chance" to place it in that gallery at all since it very well may be quite the best novel that has ever been inspired by the cult of the bicycle wheel. Nothing could be more hopelessly unromantic than the materials of the story,—the poor, weedy little draper's assistant out for his ten days' holiday, and the silly young Jady in rational dress, who is resolved to Live her Life, and consents to what is practically an elopement with an unscrupulous married man. But H. G. Wells is a true magician; his story is more than a mere tour deforce; and the little draper, spite of his twang and his cheap suit, his ridiculous manners, and his mean presence, is no "cad on castors," but a real knight-errant, for whom we have a sneaking liking at the outset, and at the last, a feeling that is very near affection.
Little Mr. Hoopdriver is a figure at once diverting and pathetic. His struggles with his machine in the early stages of his memorable journey, and the reckless mendacities in which he indulges with a view to impress Miss Milton, are immensely funny; but in the end one parts from the little man with a lump in one's throat. He has played the part of the 'deus ex machina' — in a literal
sense—with such pluck and nerve that he might well be pardoned for dreaming that the fair maiden whom he rescued from the ogre might reward him with her hand. Mr. Hoopdriver has to go back "to the early rising, the dusting, and drudgery," but it is with a difference, "with wonderful memories and still more wonderful desires and ambitions."
* * *
The illustrations, for the most part in this e-book edition, are excellent, as is to be expected from such conscientious publishers as Macmillan of New York, and J. M. Dent of London.
* * * * * * *
Forty Illustrations by J. Ayton Symington as they appeared in the first edition of 1896.
Capitalized words and phrases have been reverted back to italics as used the original hard copy edition.
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