The Wife of Sir Isaac Harman

This is the annotated edition including the rare biographical essay by Edwin E. Slosson called "H. G. Wells - A Major Prophet Of His Time". Lady Harman is simply one more girl married rather prematurely to a man much too old for her and in blind ignorance of the obligations that she is incurring. Sir Isaac is an equally common type, rather medieval in his attitude toward women, with clear convictions as to a man's property rights in a wife. Furthermore, Sir Isaac is jealous, and during the first six years of their marriage he has contrived, not only that his wife shall form no intimate friendships with other women, but that she shall never enjoy two minutes of uninterrupted private conversation with any man other than himself. Consequently, the adventure with which this chronicle opens, when Lady Harman, chaperoned solely by her chauffeur, inspects a country house that is offered for sale, and incidentally makes the acquaintance of its owner, the novelist, George Bromley, author of the "Euphemia Books," opens a crucial epoch in her life. It is her first actual contact with the world of art and letters, her first experience of any life other than staid, conventional, iron-clad conservatism. The seeds of rebellion have long been germinating within her, and undoubtedly would have borne fruit sooner or later; but it is this meeting with Bromley that hastens events, encourages her to defy her husband's commands and make the acquaintance of women of the advanced type …