Tono-Bungay
by H. G. Wells
- First published
- 1909
- Reading level
- Plain English
- Price
- Free
About the book
"Tono-Bungay" by H. G. Wells is a realist semiautobiographical novel published in 1909. George Ponderevo narrates his seven-year involvement in selling his uncle's patent medicine, which he knows is "a damned swindle." As his uncle's business empire rises and collapses, George grapples with religious doubt, socialism, and ennui while navigating failed relationships and a decaying English social system. The novel traces his journey from idealistic youth to disillusioned designer of naval destroyers, questioning what drives modern civilization.
- Science fiction
- Satire
- England
- Patent medicines
- Pharmaceutical industry
Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #718. Tono-Bungay on Wikipedia.
