The Wife of Sir Isaac Harman

https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/the-wife-of-sir-isaac-harman-by-h-g-wells/

Ellen Sawbridge, aged 18, marries Isaac Harman, who is rich, twenty years older and receives a knighthood on their wedding day. After bearing him four children, she undergoes an epiphany; she discovers the need to exert her own individuality and do her own things, and also realises that her husband’s wealth is based on ruthless exploitation of the workers in the chain of cafes that he owns. “She began to read more and more in order to learn things… and less and less to pass the time.”

Helping her in this process is George Brumley (a viewpoint character in a novel by a writer whose middle name was George and was born in Bromley), a widower who is deeply in show more love with Lady Harman and of whom Sir Isaac becomes (justifiably) very jealous. I thought that the personal journeys of the two protagonists were very nicely and credibly done, without too much of the speechifying that many of Wells’ political characters are prone to indulge in.

Unfortunately the novel is colossally spoiled by the casual and systematic anti-semitism in the portrayal of Sir Isaac Harman. The word ‘Jew’ is never directly used, but there is constant insinuation about him; the pointiness of his nose (and of his children’s noses); his unsporting attitude to sports; his obsession with wealth; his accent. Adam Roberts has gone into this at much greater length (also he didn’t like the rest of the book as much as I did).

It would be possible to do a perfectly good dramatisation of this story with the anti-semitism removed; though you would have to change the title. show less

Like a lot of HGWell's sociological novels, I found this very easy to read when I was holding it, and very easy to ignore when I wasn't. It's probably the slowest paced novel of his I've read thus far, but the pay off is worth it.

The basic plot is straight forward. A woman is persuaded to marry young to a wealthy man. As she grows older she realises how little freedom she has, even to have opinions, let alone express them. She tries to find a way to gain that freedom.

Lady Harman is a pretty passive character, which is what makes her an interesting example of Edwardian feminism. I found her frustrating at times, but I appreciated that in her own quiet way she sticks to her guns and found a way through her marriage to the other side. Mr show more Brumley is an interesting foil, never quite understanding her motivations; he's almost as sexist as her husband in his persistant belief that her complaints are solely due to her treatment at the hands of her husband rather than the treatment at the hands of a chauvinist society. The narrator appears well aware of this, and mocks him gently on occasion for it.

It's hard to tell where exactly HGWells stood on the issue. From the novels I've read so far he seems in favour of giving women the vote, but most of his female characters are very passive, existing predominantly in the background and with little impact on plot. His use of an omniscient narrator (hinted here to be a member of Lady Harman's group of friends) means he distances himself from the opinions espoused in the novel quite neatly.

Overall, it's definitely worth reading, especially if you're interested in depictions of early feminism in contemporary novels. However, it is very slow, with predominantly passive characters, and is best saved for a long afternoon with no distractions, or it will get put down and not picked up again.

www.solelyfictional.org show less

This novel was not a supreme achievement of Wells. It was quite hackneyed and didn't suit his style of writing in my opinion. Not only was it dull, but it was tedious to read as well and I don't feel that it was a good expenditure of time. Therefore, I do not recommend it for reading- even by fans of Wells' lesser material.

1.5 stars- ouch.