'The sculptress Kathleen Bruce, widow of the Arctic explorer Captain Scott ... became positively scornful when she read [H. G.] Wells's "God the Invisible King" in 1917 ...'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Kathleen Bruce Print: Book
'Bennett had read "Ann Veronica", which Wells had sent him that October with an inscription "The Young Mistress's Tale, to Arnold B. with love from his nephew H.G.": he hadn't been over-impressed with it, surprisingly, perhaps.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Book
'In January he had read Wells's 'The New Machieavelli' . . .[sic]'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Book
"... [Margaret Cole's] reading at Girton in the early twentieth century influenced her development as a Socialist ... she was shocked by a comment in J. A. Hobson's The Science of Wealth to the effect that a certain number of wageless unemployed was a necessary condition of capitalist industry ... 'In this mood of altruistic indignation I picked up H. G. Wells's New Worlds for Old -- under the misapprehension that it was another scientific romance like The First Men in the Moon, which had fascinated me years before -- and tumbled straight into Socialism overnight'."
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Margaret Cole Print: Book
"... [Margaret Cole's] reading at Girton in the early twentieth century influenced her development as a Socialist ... she was shocked by a comment in J. A. Hobson's The Science of Wealth to the effect that a certain number of wageless unemployed was a necessary condition of capitalist industry ... 'In this mood of altruistic indignation I picked up H. G. Wells's New Worlds for Old -- under the misapprehension that it was another scientific romance like The First Men in the Moon, which had fascinated me years before -- and tumbled straight into Socialism overnight'."
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Margaret Cole Print: Book
'In a letter to Mrs Herzog he says: "Wells's new novel, Marriage, of which I have just read the proofs, contains more intimate conveyances of the atmosphere of married life than anybody has ever achieved before, I am rather annoyed as I am about to try and get the same intimacy in my Clayhanger-Hilda book, entitled These Twain.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Manuscript: Unknown, proofs of book
Henry James to H. G. Wells, 29 January 1900: 'It was very graceful of you to send me your book -- I mean the particular masterpiece entitled "The Time Machine", after I had so ungracefully sought it at your hands [...] You are very magnificent [...] I re-write you, much, as I read -- which is the highest tribute my damned impertinence can pay an author.'
Century: 1850-1899 / 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Henry James Print: Book
Henry James to H. G. Wells, 24 January 1904: 'I've [italics] wanted [end italics], day after day, to write -- wanted to quite intensely from the day I read your two munificently-conferred books [...] "M[ankind] in the M[aking]" thrills and transports me [...] it becomes, as one reads, inordinately obective, heroic, sympathetic, D'Artagnanesque.
Of the little Tales in t'other book ["Twelve Stories and a Dream"] I read one every night regularly, after going to bed -- they had only the defect of hurrying me prematurely to my couch.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Henry James Print: Book
Henry James to H. G. Wells, 24 January 1904: 'I've [italics] wanted [end italics], day after day, to write -- wanted to quite intensely from the day I read your two munificently-conferred books [...] "M[ankind] in the M[aking]" thrills and transports me [...] it becomes, as one reads, inordinately obective, heroic, sympathetic, D'Artagnanesque.
'Of the little Tales in t'other book ["Twelve Stories and a Dream"] I read one every night regularly, after going to bed -- they had only the defect of hurrying me prematurely to my couch.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Henry James Print: Book
Henry James to H. G. Wells, 19 November 1905, in praise of two works recently sent by Wells: 'I found your first munificence here on returning [from tour of USA] [...] toward the end of July [...] I recognized [...] that the Utopia ["A Modern Utopia" was a book I should desire to read only in the right conditions of [italics] coming [end italics] to it [...] I "came to it" only a short time since [...] and achieved a complete saturation; after which [...] I found Kipps [...] awaiting me -- and from his so different but still so utterly coercive embrace I have just emerged.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Henry James Print: Book
Henry James to H. G. Wells, 19 November 1905, in praise of two works recently sent by Wells: 'I found your first munificence here on returning [from tour of USA] [...] toward the end of July [...] I recognized [...] that the Utopia ["A Modern Utopia" was a book I should desire to read only in the right conditions of [italics] coming [end italics] to it [...] I "came to it" only a short time since [...] and achieved a complete saturation; after which [...] I found Kipps [...] awaiting me -- and from his so different but still so utterly coercive embrace I have just emerged.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Henry James Print: Book
Henry James to H. G. Wells, 8 November 1906: 'I came back last night from five days in London to find your so generously-given "America," and I have done nothing today but thrill and squirm with it and vibrate to it almost feverishly and weep over it almost profusely'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Henry James Print: Book
Henry James to Edmund Gosse, 10 October 1912:
'I have received within a day or two dear old George Meredith's "Letters"; and, though I haven't been able yet very much to go into them, I catch their emanation of something so admirable, and, on the whole, so baffled and so tragic. We must have some more talk of them -- and also of Wells's book ["Marriage"], with which I am however having much difficulty. I am not so much struck with its hardness as with its weakness and looseness, the utter going by the board of any real self respect of composition and expression.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Henry James Print: Book
Henry James to H. G. Wells, 18 October 1912, whilst suffering from shingles: 'you may not have forgotten that you kindly sent me "Marriage" [...] which I've been able to give myself to at my less ravaged and afflicted hours. I have read you, as I always read you [...] with a complete abdication of all those "principles of criticism" [...] which I roam, which I totter, through the pages of others attended in some dim degree by the fond yet feeble theory of, but which I shake off, as I advance under your spell, with the most cynical inconsistency.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Henry James Print: Book
Henry James to H. G. Wells, 21 September 1913, thanking him for a copy of his new novel, "The Passionate Friends": 'I am too impatient to let you know [italics]how[end italics] wonderful I find this last [...] I bare my head before [...] the high immensity [...] which has made me absorb the so full-bodied thing in deep and prolonged gustatory draughts.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Henry James Print: Book
Henry James to Hugh Walpole, 21 November 1914: '[H. G.] Wells has published a mere flat tiresomeness ("Sir Isaac Harman's Wife"); at least I had, for the first time with anything of Wells's, simply to let it slide.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Henry James Print: Book
Henry James to James B. Pinker, 6 January 1915: 'be thanked [...] for your conveyance to me of Arnold Bennett's healthy article (which I had seen and much relished, though I do myself deprecate everywhere the laying on of any rose-colour too thick), and of Wells's admirable scarification, as I hold it, of G[eorge].B[ernard].S[haw]. -- in which I find myself ready to back himn up to the hilt.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Henry James Print: Serial / periodical
Henry James to H. G. Wells, 6 July 1915: 'I was given yesterday at a club your volume "Boon, etc.", from a loose leaf in which I learn that you kindly sent it me [...] I have just been reading, to acknowledge it intelligently, a considerable number of its pages -- though not all; for, to be perfectly frank, I have been in that respect beaten for the first time -- or rather for the first time but one -- by a book of yours'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Henry James Print: Book
'I perceive you couldn?t keep your new house out of the "Fortnightly"! This third article is the best yet. I have never seen so good an illustration of the scientific use of imagination.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Serial / periodical
'I note lately the evidence of an extraordinary activity on your part. Perhaps you have observed how difficult it is to pick up a decent magazine without You in it. I took in the "Fortnightly" and the "Strand" in order to run even with you. And now damned if you haven?t let me in for "Pearson?s"! And I hear rumour of a "Dream of Armageddon" in something else. You make your readers work.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Serial / periodical
'I note lately the evidence of an extraordinary activity on your part. Perhaps you have observed how difficult it is to pick up a decent magazine without You in it. I took in the "Fortnightly" and the "Strand" in order to run even with you. And now damned if you haven?t let me in for "Pearson?s"! And I hear rumour of a "Dream of Armageddon" in something else. You make your readers work.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Serial / periodical
'I have read [The First Men on the Moon] in Strand, & hasten to insult & annoy you by stating that the last two instalments are among the very best things you have done. I have read Anticipations in Fortnightly, & hasten to say that I have been absolutely overwhelmed by the breadth & the sheer intellectual vigour of them, not to mention the imaginative power. These articles really have made me a little afraid of you.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Serial / periodical
"Many thanks for 'Mankind in the Making'. Like 'Anticipations' it is very wonderful, and very uneven."
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Book
'Just before leaving Paris I read the first instalment of "F. of G." in Pearson?s & thought it extremely good, barring a few minime verbal infelicities. It cost me 2 francs to buy the number, but I couldn?t resist it.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Serial / periodical
'And that reminds me that your last Strand story was really admirable. A little faint towards the end I thought, but fundamentally damn good. '
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Serial / periodical
'I am disposed to agree with your own estimate of "Scepticism of the Instrument". I don?t, however, think that your third indictment of the instrument is quite new.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett
"I am disposed to agree with your own estimate of 'Scepticism of the Instrument'. I don?t, however, think that your third indictment of the instrument is quite new."
Unknown
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett
'Many thanks for the book. [A Modern Utopia.] If it was a novel I could say something useful about it, but as it isn?t, I don?t know that I can. The latter half of it is much more convincing & suggestive than the first half, & is also better done, but all of it is better than "Mankind in the Making".'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Book
'The only real seizable fault that I can find in Kipps is the engagement to Helen, which entirely failed to convince me. . . . After agreeing with myself that I read the thing all through with eagerness & joy, and after telling myself that I must not expect in your "human interest" novels those aspects of life which you either can?t see or disdain to see, I find myself asking what this book "proves" & not getting any answer.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Book
'. . . By the way your Westminster Gazette article was magnificent, & filled me with holy joy.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Serial / periodical
'. . . now I see the announcement of your articles in the Tribune . . . '
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Advertisement, Serial / periodical
'Your Chicago article was very good.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Serial / periodical
'And you never will persuade the people who don?t matter that the close of the 'Comet' is not profoundly immoral.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Unknown
'I am reading "1st & Last" which arrived a few days ago. As it isn?t a novel I can?t pontificate on it. However, when I have digested it I shall give you my ideas. There is not doubt whatever that it is a great deal too short, a very great deal.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Book
'The New M is a magnificent work.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Book
'I return the proofs by registered bookpost. I have read them with care. I have of course confined my observations to misprints, punctuation, points of phraseology, & sentences of which I absolutely failed to grasp the meaning.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Manuscript: Codex
'You have been looking for the wrong things in "The Passionate Friends", & failing to see the right things.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Book
Tuesday 2 February 1932: 'I am reading Wells' science of life, & have reached the hen that became a cock or vice versa.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Virginia Woolf Print: Book
Thursday 11 February 1932: 'My mind is set running upon A Knock on the Door (whats its name?) owing largely to reading "Wells on Woman" -- how she must be ancillary & decorative in the world of the future, because she has been tried, in 10 years, & has not proved anything.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Virginia Woolf Print: Book
Sunday 8 May 1932: 'I've scarcely read [on holiday in Greece] [...] only Roger's Eastman, & Wells, & Murry.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Virginia Woolf Print: Book
Tuesday 2 October 1934:
'Books read or in reading [over summer 1934]:
Sh[akespea]re. Troilus.
Pericles.
Taming of Shrew.
Cymbeline.
Maupassant.
de Vigny. only scraps [the four French authors grouped by bracket in MS]
St Simon.
Gide.
Library books: Powys
Wells
Lady Brooke.
Prose. Dobree.
Alice James.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Virginia Woolf Print: Book
Wednesday 21 November 1934: 'I am reading, with interest & distaste, Wells'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Virginia Woolf Print: Book
Sunday 6 January 1935: 'We lunched with Maynard & Lydia [Keynes] [...] talked about [...] Wells -- [Maynard] had read his Au[tobiograph]y. Thought him a little squit [...] A lack of decency, said M. [...] Then he read us a long magnificently spry and juicy letter from Shaw, on a sickbed, aged 77. The whole of economics twiddled round on his finger, with the usual dives & gibes & colloquialities. The most artificial of all styles, I said, like his seeming natural speaking.'
Century: Reader/Listener/Group: John Maynard Keynes Print: Book
'I do not think that "Victory" is anything like equal to "Chance". In fact it is not first-rate Conrad, "Chance" is. "Bealby" I have never read. Wells sends me all his books; but he didn’t send "Bealby" along, and I lost the list and didn’t get it.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Book
'This is a very good number. The Wells review seems most just, but I haven’t yet finished the book. [The Soul of a Bishop]'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Book
E. M. Forster to Malcolm Darling, 29 July 1911:
'I have been reading Kipling's child's history of England with mingled joy and disgust. It's a fine conception, but oh is it necessary to build character on a psychological untruth? In other words to teach the young citizen that he is absolutely unlike the young German or the young Bashahari -- that foreigners are envious and treacherous, Englishmen, through some freak of God, never --? Kipling and all that school know it's an untruth at the bottom of their hearts -- as untrue as it is unloveable. But, for the sake of patriotism, they lie. It is despairing [...]
'I couldn't on the other hand read the New Machiavelli, finding it too fretful and bumptious, and very inartistic, but must try again -- the more so as Wells, in an article in Le Temps has mentioned me among the authors qui meritent etre mieux connus en France [...] The best novels I have come across in the past year are Rosalind Murray's The Leading Note [...] and Wedgwood's Shadow of a Titan -- unfortunately written in an affected and unreadable style.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Edward Morgan Forster Print: Book
'The more I read of H.G.’s 'Outline' the more staggered I am by it.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Serial / periodical
'Thanks ever so much for the book. One would want a long and warm talk about it.To set down the several trains of thought suggested by your pages would take many pieces of papers like this. I must resist the temptation.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Joseph Conrad Print: Book
.. . . I have no prejudice against the young, rather the reverse, and yet I am looking in vain for a really good novel by that generation, and 'Men Like Gods', with all its limitations, seems to me to contain more fundamental ‘stuff’ than anything else I have read for a long time. I am very disappointed with Lawrence, who appears to me to have genius concealed somewhere within him. Joyce has enormous power and originality, but he lacks the balance which is essential to great work. George Moore can write the heads off any of you, and he is nearly 70. I will tell you the men you need for your paper- Lynd, Forster, MacCarthy, Tomlinson. Get them.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Book
I noticed strangely few misprints in 'C.A.’s Pa'. though I had my malicious eye open for them.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Book
'Thoroughgood’s notice of Wells’s book was deplorable. ['Mr Blettsworthy on Rampole Island']. For one thing the book is magnificently written. To me it is the best novel Wells has written for years. Being a member of what are called ‘The Big Four’ I make a rule of never dealing with the work of the other three myself. It would not be becoming of me to do so. Moreover I could not possibly say what I think of Galsworthy.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Book
' This is really great, great in every dimension. [...] I have read the book ["The New Machiavelli"] yesterday and this evening I re-read it from pp.290-504. I don't know what a "masterpiece" may be --but I know what masterwork is when I see it. And this is it.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Joseph Conrad Print: Book
'Meeting held at Frensham. 6th Oct. 1943
Howard R. Smith in the chair.
1. Minutes of the last meeting were read & approved.
[...]
5. Kenneth Nicholson discoursed to us on ‘Style’. He confessed that the more he
had gone into the subject the further he had got out of his depth, but this fact was
not apparent, for what he said was most interesting and illuminating. He gave as
his four essentials for good style: Clarity, Rhythm, Sincerity and the Emergence of
Personality. Kenneth Nicholson illustrated these qualities by quotations from such
varied sources as: The Telephone Directory; an advertisement for Sanitas powder;
the Dean of Harvard; Charles Morgan; Walter Pater; C. E. Montague; G. K
Chesterton; H. G. Wells; T. E. Lawrence; a Leighton Park boy and a Press
reporter. In the discussion which followed, some members thought that good style
could be achieved without sincerity, and reference was made to the regrettable
absence of clarity in legal documents and official forms.
6. F. E. Pollard then read 7 examples of prose writing and we were asked to write
down the authors. It was only to be expected that Kenneth Nicholson, who had
been studying the subject, should come out top with 5 right answers. [...]
[signed as a true record by] A. B. Dilks
8.11.43. [at the club meeting held at 39 Eastern Avenue: see Minute Book, p. 165]'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Kenneth F. Nicholson Print: Book
'Meeting held at 70 Northcourt Avenue: 17.1.39
Charles E. Stansfield in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read & approved.
[...]
3. A letter from R. H. Robson was then read. It stated that the excellence of Book
Club suppers has increased, is increasing, & ought to be diminished. This caused a
certain embarrassment. Several members who liked to think of themselves as
frugal folk, reflected uneasily that the interval for light refreshment had often
proved itself more palatable than some of the drier fare before and after.[...]
[...]
6. Francis E Pollard then gave an appreciation of H. G. Wells in the form of a
biographical sketch. He dealt too with the amazing variety and extent of Wells’s
output, and the development of his character and beliefs.
7. Victor W. Alexander read an extract from “God the Invisible King.”
8. Further passages were read as follows:-
Margaret J Dilks from “Mankind in the making”.
H. R. Smith from “The Sea Lady”.
Mary S. W. Pollard from “Joan & Peter”.
Muriel Stevens from “The Valley of Spiders”.
9. Finally the Chairman referred again to the Supper question. R. H. Robson’s
concern was one of those which demanded from us a statesmanlike Quaker
compromise, perhaps an acceptance in principle and a rejection in practice wold
best meet the case. It was felt we should thank R. H. Robson for his letter, and
watch him closely during heat.
[signed] R. D. L. Moore
Feb. 20 1939.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander Print: Book
'Meeting held at 70 Northcourt Avenue: 17.1.39
Charles E. Stansfield in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read & approved.
[...]
3. A letter from R. H. Robson was then read. It stated that the excellence of Book
Club suppers has increased, is increasing, & ought to be diminished. This caused a
certain embarrassment. Several members who liked to think of themselves as
frugal folk, reflected uneasily that the interval for light refreshment had often
proved itself more palatable than some of the drier fare before and after.[...]
[...]
6. Francis E Pollard then gave an appreciation of H. G. Wells in the form of a
biographical sketch. He dealt too with the amazing variety and extent of Wells’s
output, and the development of his character and beliefs.
7. Victor W. Alexander read an extract from “God the Invisible King.”
8. Further passages were read as follows:-
Margaret J Dilks from “Mankind in the making”.
H. R. Smith from “The Sea Lady”.
Mary S. W. Pollard from “Joan & Peter”.
Muriel Stevens from “The Valley of Spiders”.
9. Finally the Chairman referred again to the Supper question. R. H. Robson’s
concern was one of those which demanded from us a statesmanlike Quaker
compromise, perhaps an acceptance in principle and a rejection in practice wold
best meet the case. It was felt we should thank R. H. Robson for his letter, and
watch him closely during heat.
[signed] R. D. L. Moore
Feb. 20 1939.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Margaret Dilks Print: Book
'Meeting held at 70 Northcourt Avenue: 17.1.39
Charles E. Stansfield in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read & approved.
[...]
3. A letter from R. H. Robson was then read. It stated that the excellence of Book
Club suppers has increased, is increasing, & ought to be diminished. This caused a
certain embarrassment. Several members who liked to think of themselves as
frugal folk, reflected uneasily that the interval for light refreshment had often
proved itself more palatable than some of the drier fare before and after.[...]
[...]
6. Francis E Pollard then gave an appreciation of H. G. Wells in the form of a
biographical sketch. He dealt too with the amazing variety and extent of Wells’s
output, and the development of his character and beliefs.
7. Victor W. Alexander read an extract from “God the Invisible King.”
8. Further passages were read as follows:-
Margaret J Dilks from “Mankind in the making”.
H. R. Smith from “The Sea Lady”.
Mary S. W. Pollard from “Joan & Peter”.
Muriel Stevens from “The Valley of Spiders”.
9. Finally the Chairman referred again to the Supper question. R. H. Robson’s
concern was one of those which demanded from us a statesmanlike Quaker
compromise, perhaps an acceptance in principle and a rejection in practice wold
best meet the case. It was felt we should thank R. H. Robson for his letter, and
watch him closely during heat.
[signed] R. D. L. Moore
Feb. 20 1939.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Howard Smith Print: Book
'Meeting held at 70 Northcourt Avenue: 17.1.39
Charles E. Stansfield in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read & approved.
[...]
3. A letter from R. H. Robson was then read. It stated that the excellence of Book
Club suppers has increased, is increasing, & ought to be diminished. This caused a
certain embarrassment. Several members who liked to think of themselves as
frugal folk, reflected uneasily that the interval for light refreshment had often
proved itself more palatable than some of the drier fare before and after.[...]
[...]
6. Francis E Pollard then gave an appreciation of H. G. Wells in the form of a
biographical sketch. He dealt too with the amazing variety and extent of Wells’s
output, and the development of his character and beliefs.
7. Victor W. Alexander read an extract from “God the Invisible King.”
8. Further passages were read as follows:-
Margaret J Dilks from “Mankind in the making”.
H. R. Smith from “The Sea Lady”.
Mary S. W. Pollard from “Joan & Peter”.
Muriel Stevens from “The Valley of Spiders”.
9. Finally the Chairman referred again to the Supper question. R. H. Robson’s
concern was one of those which demanded from us a statesmanlike Quaker
compromise, perhaps an acceptance in principle and a rejection in practice wold
best meet the case. It was felt we should thank R. H. Robson for his letter, and
watch him closely during heat.
[signed] R. D. L. Moore
Feb. 20 1939.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Mary Pollard Print: Book
'Meeting held at 70 Northcourt Avenue: 17.1.39
Charles E. Stansfield in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read & approved.
[...]
3. A letter from R. H. Robson was then read. It stated that the excellence of Book
Club suppers has increased, is increasing, & ought to be diminished. This caused a
certain embarrassment. Several members who liked to think of themselves as
frugal folk, reflected uneasily that the interval for light refreshment had often
proved itself more palatable than some of the drier fare before and after.[...]
[...]
6. Francis E Pollard then gave an appreciation of H. G. Wells in the form of a
biographical sketch. He dealt too with the amazing variety and extent of Wells’s
output, and the development of his character and beliefs.
7. Victor W. Alexander read an extract from “God the Invisible King.”
8. Further passages were read as follows:-
Margaret J Dilks from “Mankind in the making”.
H. R. Smith from “The Sea Lady”.
Mary S. W. Pollard from “Joan & Peter”.
Muriel Stevens from “The Valley of Spiders”.
9. Finally the Chairman referred again to the Supper question. R. H. Robson’s
concern was one of those which demanded from us a statesmanlike Quaker
compromise, perhaps an acceptance in principle and a rejection in practice wold
best meet the case. It was felt we should thank R. H. Robson for his letter, and
watch him closely during heat.
[signed] R. D. L. Moore
Feb. 20 1939.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Muriel Stevens Print: Book
'Meeting held at 70 Northcourt Avenue: 17.1.39
Charles E. Stansfield in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read & approved.
[...]
3. A letter from R. H. Robson was then read. It stated that the excellence of Book
Club suppers has increased, is increasing, & ought to be diminished. This caused a
certain embarrassment. Several members who liked to think of themselves as
frugal folk, reflected uneasily that the interval for light refreshment had often
proved itself more palatable than some of the drier fare before and after.[...]
[...]
6. Francis E Pollard then gave an appreciation of H. G. Wells in the form of a
biographical sketch. He dealt too with the amazing variety and extent of Wells’s
output, and the development of his character and beliefs.
7. Victor W. Alexander read an extract from “God the Invisible King.”
8. Further passages were read as follows:-
Margaret J Dilks from “Mankind in the making”.
H. R. Smith from “The Sea Lady”.
Mary S. W. Pollard from “Joan & Peter”.
Muriel Stevens from “The Valley of Spiders”.
9. Finally the Chairman referred again to the Supper question. R. H. Robson’s
concern was one of those which demanded from us a statesmanlike Quaker
compromise, perhaps an acceptance in principle and a rejection in practice would
best meet the case. It was felt we should thank R. H. Robson for his letter, and
watch him closely during heat.
[signed] R. D. L. Moore
Feb. 20 1939.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Print: Book
'Meeting held at 70 Northcourt Avenue: 17.1.39
Charles E. Stansfield in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read & approved.
[...]
3. A letter from R. H. Robson was then read. It stated that the excellence of Book
Club suppers has increased, is increasing, & ought to be diminished. This caused a
certain embarrassment. Several members who liked to think of themselves as
frugal folk, reflected uneasily that the interval for light refreshment had often
proved itself more palatable than some of the drier fare before and after.[...]
[...]
6. Francis E Pollard then gave an appreciation of H. G. Wells in the form of a
biographical sketch. He dealt too with the amazing variety and extent of Wells’s
output, and the development of his character and beliefs.
7. Victor W. Alexander read an extract from “God the Invisible King.”
8. Further passages were read as follows:-
Margaret J Dilks from “Mankind in the making”.
H. R. Smith from “The Sea Lady”.
Mary S. W. Pollard from “Joan & Peter”.
Muriel Stevens from “The Valley of Spiders”.
9. Finally the Chairman referred again to the Supper question. R. H. Robson’s
concern was one of those which demanded from us a statesmanlike Quaker
compromise, perhaps an acceptance in principle and a rejection in practice would
best meet the case. It was felt we should thank R. H. Robson for his letter, and
watch him closely during heat.
[signed] R. D. L. Moore
Feb. 20 1939.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander Print: Book
'Meeting held at 70 Northcourt Avenue: 17.1.39
Charles E. Stansfield in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read & approved.
[...]
3. A letter from R. H. Robson was then read. It stated that the excellence of Book
Club suppers has increased, is increasing, & ought to be diminished. This caused a
certain embarrassment. Several members who liked to think of themselves as
frugal folk, reflected uneasily that the interval for light refreshment had often
proved itself more palatable than some of the drier fare before and after.[...]
[...]
6. Francis E Pollard then gave an appreciation of H. G. Wells in the form of a
biographical sketch. He dealt too with the amazing variety and extent of Wells’s
output, and the development of his character and beliefs.
7. Victor W. Alexander read an extract from “God the Invisible King.”
8. Further passages were read as follows:-
Margaret J Dilks from “Mankind in the making”.
H. R. Smith from “The Sea Lady”.
Mary S. W. Pollard from “Joan & Peter”.
Muriel Stevens from “The Valley of Spiders”.
9. Finally the Chairman referred again to the Supper question. R. H. Robson’s
concern was one of those which demanded from us a statesmanlike Quaker
compromise, perhaps an acceptance in principle and a rejection in practice would
best meet the case. It was felt we should thank R. H. Robson for his letter, and
watch him closely during heat.
[signed] R. D. L. Moore
Feb. 20 1939.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Margaret Dilks Print: Book
'Meeting held at 70 Northcourt Avenue: 17.1.39
Charles E. Stansfield in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read & approved.
[...]
3. A letter from R. H. Robson was then read. It stated that the excellence of Book
Club suppers has increased, is increasing, & ought to be diminished. This caused a
certain embarrassment. Several members who liked to think of themselves as
frugal folk, reflected uneasily that the interval for light refreshment had often
proved itself more palatable than some of the drier fare before and after.[...]
[...]
6. Francis E Pollard then gave an appreciation of H. G. Wells in the form of a
biographical sketch. He dealt too with the amazing variety and extent of Wells’s
output, and the development of his character and beliefs.
7. Victor W. Alexander read an extract from “God the Invisible King.”
8. Further passages were read as follows:-
Margaret J Dilks from “Mankind in the making”.
H. R. Smith from “The Sea Lady”.
Mary S. W. Pollard from “Joan & Peter”.
Muriel Stevens from “The Valley of Spiders”.
9. Finally the Chairman referred again to the Supper question. R. H. Robson’s
concern was one of those which demanded from us a statesmanlike Quaker
compromise, perhaps an acceptance in principle and a rejection in practice would
best meet the case. It was felt we should thank R. H. Robson for his letter, and
watch him closely during heat.
[signed] R. D. L. Moore
Feb. 20 1939.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Howard Smith Print: Book
'Meeting held at 70 Northcourt Avenue: 17.1.39
Charles E. Stansfield in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read & approved.
[...]
3. A letter from R. H. Robson was then read. It stated that the excellence of Book
Club suppers has increased, is increasing, & ought to be diminished. This caused a
certain embarrassment. Several members who liked to think of themselves as
frugal folk, reflected uneasily that the interval for light refreshment had often
proved itself more palatable than some of the drier fare before and after.[...]
[...]
6. Francis E Pollard then gave an appreciation of H. G. Wells in the form of a
biographical sketch. He dealt too with the amazing variety and extent of Wells’s
output, and the development of his character and beliefs.
7. Victor W. Alexander read an extract from “God the Invisible King.”
8. Further passages were read as follows:-
Margaret J Dilks from “Mankind in the making”.
H. R. Smith from “The Sea Lady”.
Mary S. W. Pollard from “Joan & Peter”.
Muriel Stevens from “The Valley of Spiders”.
9. Finally the Chairman referred again to the Supper question. R. H. Robson’s
concern was one of those which demanded from us a statesmanlike Quaker
compromise, perhaps an acceptance in principle and a rejection in practice would
best meet the case. It was felt we should thank R. H. Robson for his letter, and
watch him closely during heat.
[signed] R. D. L. Moore
Feb. 20 1939.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Mary Pollard Print: Book
'Meeting held at 70 Northcourt Avenue: 17.1.39
Charles E. Stansfield in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read & approved.
[...]
3. A letter from R. H. Robson was then read. It stated that the excellence of Book
Club suppers has increased, is increasing, & ought to be diminished. This caused a
certain embarrassment. Several members who liked to think of themselves as
frugal folk, reflected uneasily that the interval for light refreshment had often
proved itself more palatable than some of the drier fare before and after.[...]
[...]
6. Francis E Pollard then gave an appreciation of H. G. Wells in the form of a
biographical sketch. He dealt too with the amazing variety and extent of Wells’s
output, and the development of his character and beliefs.
7. Victor W. Alexander read an extract from “God the Invisible King.”
8. Further passages were read as follows:-
Margaret J Dilks from “Mankind in the making”.
H. R. Smith from “The Sea Lady”.
Mary S. W. Pollard from “Joan & Peter”.
Muriel Stevens from “The Valley of Spiders”.
9. Finally the Chairman referred again to the Supper question. R. H. Robson’s
concern was one of those which demanded from us a statesmanlike Quaker
compromise, perhaps an acceptance in principle and a rejection in practice would
best meet the case. It was felt we should thank R. H. Robson for his letter, and
watch him closely during heat.
[signed] R. D. L. Moore
Feb. 20 1939.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Muriel Stevens Print: Book
‘Your Lucretius arrived in all its beauty of type and cover. It is a noble poem
and I wish it were printed in a more compressed form so that one could
have it in the pocket and read it more. It does now sound like a translation
the words seem so natural to the thought … I can say no more than that I
got deep pleasure from it and thank you very much. I’m reading some
Shakespeare—Sturge Moore, G. Bottomley H. G. Wells—Sturge Moore
delights me—they are only small things I mean as number of words go,—
but he is after my own heart. You know what I think of G. B. And that old
hawker of immortality how glad one feels, he is not a witness of these
terrible times—he would only have been flung into this terrible destruction,
like the rest of us. Anyway we all hope it’ll all end well.’
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Isaac Rosenberg Print: Book
'Do you read H. G. Wells's vaticinations which are
somewhat faliderol [sic] in the "Daily Mail"? Well
there' some—a good deal of truth in them,and the
reading classes in England will have to pull
themselves together—or what? [...] These are
uncomfortable subjects but I've nothing literary
to write about. I wasn't well enough to go and see
my literary and journal friends on Tuesday as
usual, and so feel out of what's doing.
"[In] Cotton Wool" is on the table and my sick
wife who has not read a book these nine months,
has taken it up and, I see, is halfway through
it. She says she doesn't like it but something
compels her to go on reading it. I may be able to
read it in some future time: just now I'm
writing, not reading and am turning out a few
articles.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: William Henry Hudson Print: Newspaper
