H. G. Wells 
Research Magnificent 

‘What does all this struggle here amount to?’ William Benham sets out on a globe-trotting adventure to find the answer in H.G. Wells’ ‘The Research Magnificent’. Overzealous and unprepared, the young aristocrat embarks on a journey to live an honourable life. What ensues is a picaresque tale of one man’s pilgrimage around the globe in which his philanthropy puts him in many preposterous and perilous situations. This tragi-comic odyssey features some of Wells’ most vivid and picturesque writing as he describes the beauty of the world from Slovenia to South Africa. ‘The Research Magnificent’ is one of Wells’ funniest stories but its striking cross-examination of the beauty of travel and the cost of colonialism ensures that it remains relevant to this day. This book’s blend of humour and poignancy makes it the perfect read for fans of authors such as John Kennedy Toole and Kurt Vonnegut.-