James Versus Wells

Henry James (1843-1916) and H.G. Wells (1866-1946) became friends in the mid-1890s and held each other in high esteem, despite differing aesthetic views. James, a master stylist and theorist about the the novel, disagreed with Wells who argued for the usefulness of art.  

By reading fictionalised biographies of both writers and a study of some of their own writing, we shall discuss the disagreement between two titans of English literature that led eventually to a falling out.

TERM 1 Friday 27th September start. No class Friday 4th October. 

·       The Master (2004) by Colm Toibin

·       The Portrait of a Lady (1881) by Henry James

·       The History of Mr Polly (1910) by H.G Wells

TERM 2

·       What Masie Knew (1997) by Henry James

·       A Man of Parts (2011) by David Lodge

·       The War of the Worlds (1898) by H.G Wells