[Rarebooks] FS: Inscribed H. G. Wells with Fine Feminist Association

[Charles Agvent]

WELLS, H. G THE PASSIONATE FRIENDS: A NOVEL
MacMillan London 1913 First Edition. Olive green cloth, stamped in gilt 
and blind. INSCRIBED and SIGNED on the front free endpaper by the 
author: "H.G. Wells/to/His Paston." "His Paston" was author Emily Morse 
Symonds (1860-1936), who used the pseudonym George Paston on her many 
novels, plays, and biographies. Her recurring theme was women's struggle 
to achieve independence of mind and action despite contemporary legal 
and social constraints. In his own work, Wells repeatedly expressed 
feminist sympathies. THE PASSIONATE FRIENDS is an example; here Wells 
laments the fine qualities in women that are "entangled and stifled and 
unable to free themselves from the ancient limiting jealousies which law 
and custom embody." Vladimir Nabokov considered this novel one of the 
most undervalued of the century. Bookplate on front pastedown of Henry 
Symonds, father of Miss Symonds. Very mild rubbing to extremities; 
foxing to endpapers though the inscription by Wells is largely 
unaffected. Much later unknown name on rear endpaper. A fine association 
recording another of the relationships in that London circle of writing 
feminists, suffragists, socialists, and birth-control advocates. Near 
Fine                  $1500.00
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