'Boon' (1915) by H G Wells (as Reginald Bliss)

'Boon' (published under the pseudonym Reginald Bliss) is a satirical novel by H G Wells that parodies literary trends, philosophical debates, and some of Wells’s contemporaries, especially Henry James. The full title, 'Boon, The Mind of the Race, The Wild Asses of the Devil, and The Last Trump; Being a First Selection from the Literary Remains of George Boon', hints at its irreverent and humorous style. It presents itself as a posthumous collection of fragments from the fictional George Boon, a free-thinking writer and intellectual.

The novel is a mix of genres and styles, with chapters that digress into various topics, including literature, social issues, and the absurdities of modern life. Wells uses Boon’s rambling monologues and dialogues with friends to critique highbrow literary pretensions, the rigidity of Edwardian morals, and the often convoluted writing style of authors like James. In fact, one of the most famous sections, The James Epilogue, is a direct and scathing parody of Henry James's elaborate prose, which Wells considered overly complex and detached from reality.

Beyond its satire of literary culture, Boon reflects Wells's evolving ideas about society, individualism, and the future of humanity. Though the novel is humorous and exaggerated, it also grapples with genuine frustrations Wells had with what he saw as stagnant literary and social conventions.

Ultimately, Boon is a playful and biting commentary on both literary culture and the broader societal norms of Wells's time, showcasing his wit and his critique of intellectual elitism. It remains a unique piece in Wells’s body of work, blending humor with a spirited, if sometimes caustic, critique of early 20th-century thought.