The History of Mr. Polly

H. G. Wells's The History of Mr. Polly is a comic novel about an unhappy shopkeeper who feels trapped by marriage, routine, and small-town respectability. When his life collapses, he is forced into a rougher, freer existence that gives Wells room to mock middle-class anxiety and celebrate second chances.

This novel works well for readers who want social comedy with a humane center. The History of Mr. Polly is playful, sharp, and ultimately generous, turning an ordinary life into a story about escape, self-reinvention, and the surprising relief that can follow failure. Wells keeps the tone light without losing sight of the character's deeper frustration. It rewards readers who like wit that still leaves room for sympathy.