Tono-Bungay

“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.