The Research Magnificent. By H. G. Wells. (Macmillan and Co.
684—When, at the very beginning of Mr. Wells's new book, we were told that "the story of William Porphyry Benham is the story of a man who was led into adventure by an idea. . . . He had an incurable, an almost innate, persuasion that he had to live Life -nobly and thoroughly," and when we had more or lees assimilated the lengthy preface " on Fear and Aristocracy," we knew that we had embarked on one of Mr. Wells's grandiose discourses on matters ethical, social, political, and moral, The Research Magnificent is indeed so cosmic and albembra.cing that it ends in the year 1913 rather than face the inevitable concentration and partisanship of 1914. The channel of communication between Mr. Wells and us—you can scarcely call him the hero—is a young egoist with several thousands a year, no work, and an incurable habit of introspection. He marries modern young woman of vigour
and individuality, spends an adventurous' honeymoon in the Balkan States, and then leaves her in an endeavour to dis- cover his own soul. There is less plot than is usual, even in Mr. Wells's novels, but there is still the attraction and interest that we have learned to expect in his work.
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