TonoBungay, H. G. Wells
TonoBungay, H. G. Wells
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Tono-Bungay

Author: H. G. Wells

Narrator: Marty Krz

Unabridged: 14 hr 37 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/12/2024


Synopsis

“Tono-Bungay. Like Mountain Air in the Veins.”Tono-Bungay is a patented medicine that promises it all: health, beauty, and strength. George Ponderevo, the narrator of this story, is persuaded by the inventor of the medicine—his Uncle Edward—to help develop the Tono-Bungay business. George devotes seven years of his life to doing so, despite believing that the whole operation is “a damned swindle.”After breaking free in a new direction, however, George’s ties with his uncle continue to shape his life, as do various social forces.This coming-of-age novel explores themes including religious skepticism, socialism, ennui, English society, sexual relationships, and metaphysics, as George searches for an ideal to which he can devote his life. Like all Wells’s novels, Tono-Bungay abounds with social critique. This novel was published in 1909 and is semi-autobiographical.

About H. G. Wells

Herbert George Wells (1866–1946) was born in Bromley, England to a working class family. His first novel, The Time Machine, was an instant success and Wells produced a series of science fiction novels which pioneered ideas about the future. His later work focused on satire and social criticism. Wells forecasted the rise of major cities and suburbs, economic globalization, and aspects of future military conflicts.

About Marty Krz

Marty Krzywonos is an actor, director, music producer, writer, associate producer, and editor. He is known for Creed II, Black Swan, and Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. He has a BA in vocal and has performed professionally with a band called New York Experience, along with performances in regional theatre. He writes music for plays and conducts orchestras. He even tap dances.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Paul on April 19, 2023

Two points about this odd, sour, sometimes zippy but more often quite tedious novel that Wells thought was his greatest work. I really love that well-known guide 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die Horribly, it’s true book porn, all those mug shots of authors who I hardly thought had faces at all......more

Goodreads review by Jim on July 25, 2016

I have read a number of H.G. Wells's early sci-fi novels. This is the first time I have read one of his "other" novels, and I am surprised to see that it is by far his best work. Tono-Bungay is a bildungsroman about growing up poor in Victorian England and making one's way in the world by a combinat......more

Goodreads review by Vicente on January 20, 2021

Maybe the best H.G. Wells' incursion outside his mother ship of science fiction, Tono-Bungay is the tale of a useless and addictive medicine embellished by an early form of marketing. However, behind the major plot, it hides an interesting criticism of a capitalist society, where everyone works and......more

Goodreads review by Tabuyo on July 02, 2020

Yo no conocía de nada esta novela de H.G.Wells. Tenía en mente una historia diferente a la que terminé encontrando pero me ha gustado igualmente. Retrata muy bien la caída de la nobleza y el auge de los nuevos ricos que luchan por hacerse un hueco en la alta sociedad. Reseña: [URL not allowed]......more