These are two papers written by Mr. H. G. Wells. The first was read to the Fabian Society in October, 1906, under the title of “Socialism and the Middle Classes.” The second appeared first in the “Independent Review.” Together they state pretty completely the attitude of Modern Socialism to family life....

In this paper I am anxious to define and discuss the relationship between three distinct things: (1) Socialism, i.e. a large, a slowly elaborating conception of a sane and organized state and moral culture to replace our present chaotic way of living, (2) the Socialist movement, and (3) the Middle Classes. The first is to me a very great thing indeed, the form and substance of my ideal life, and all the religion I possess. Let me make my confession plain and clear. I am, by a sort of predestinat

I do not think that the general reader at all appreciates the steady development of Socialist thought during the past two decades. Directly one comes into close contact with contemporary Socialists one discovers in all sorts of ways the evidence of the synthetic work that has been and still is in process, the clearing and growth of guiding ideas, the qualification of primitive statements, the consideration, the adaptation to meet this or that adequate criticism. A quarter of a century ago Social