Christina Alberta's Father

In the months following his wife's death, Mr. Preemby, a retired laundryman, becomes convinced that he is the incarnation of Sargon, the ancient king of Sumeria, returned to save a world upturned by World War I. Trying to make sense of Mr. Preemby is his stepdaughter, Christina Alberta. A masterclass in comic invention, Christina Alberta's Father depicts characters who long for something to believe in, just so long as it is not "some horrible Utopia by Wells," but whose attempts to change the world are always doomed to disappointment. Whether taken as a social satire, a psychological study or a critique of Wells's own beliefs and relationships, this book makes for a fascinating and delightful read.

H.G. Wells was a prolific English writer nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature four times. Although his writing spanned many genres and forms, he is best remembered for his science-fiction novels, including The Time Machine, The Invisible Man and The War of the Worlds. Michael Sherborne is the author of H. G. Wells: Another Kind of Life.