The Passionate Friends
The Passionate Friends, published in 1913, is written as a long letter from Stephen Stratton to his son, to be read when the boy is grown. Stratton tells how as a young man he loved Lady Mary Christian, how she chose instead to marry the rich financier Justin, and how their renewed affair years later ended in scandal and his departure for the Boer War. He describes his own marriage, his work in publishing and international affairs, and the final meeting with Mary that closes the novel. Wells uses the story to argue about jealousy, property in women and the possibility of friendship between the sexes, and the book belongs with his novels of ideas rather than his scientific romances. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Passionate Friends
The Passionate Friends by H. G. Wells can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Passionate Friends online?
Yes. The Passionate Friends opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Passionate Friends free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Passionate Friends is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Passionate Friends in the public domain?
Yes. The Passionate Friends by H. G. Wells is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Passionate Friends?
About 6 h 57 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Passionate Friends?
The Passionate Friends by H. G. Wells is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
