The History of Mr. Polly

About “The History of Mr. Polly”

H. G. Wells' 1910 novel The History of Mr. Polly follows the life of Alfred Polly, a timid man who finds more comfort in daydreaming than in his job at a local draper's shop. He marries a woman he does not truly love, despite being in love with someone else. Together with his wife, he tries to run his own shop, but their relationship deteriorates, leading to mutual misery. A fire on a single night dramatically alters the course of Mr. Polly's life.