Bookshop Quote by H.G. Wells
““The bookshop of Kipps is on the left-hand side of the Hythe High Street coming from Folkestone, between the yard of the livery stable and the shop-window full of old silver and such like things—it is quite easy to find—and there you may see him for yourself and speak to him and buy this book of him if you like. He has it in stock, I know. Very delicately I've seen to that. His name is not Kipps, of course, you must understand that, but everything else is exactly as I have told you. You can talk to him about books, about politics, about going to Boulogne, about life, and the ups and downs of life. Perhaps he will quote you Buggins—from whom, by the bye, one can now buy everything a gentleman's wardrobe should contain at the little shop in Rendezvous Street, Folkestone. If you are fortunate to find Kipps in a good mood he may even let you know how he inherited a fortune "once." "Run froo it," he'll say with a not unhappy smile. "Got another afterwards—speckylating in plays. Needn't keep this shop if I didn't like. But it's something to do."... Or he may be even more intimate. "I seen some things," he said to me once. "Raver! Life! Why! once I—I 'loped! I did—reely!" (Of course you will not tell Kipps that he is "Kipps," or that I have put him in this book. He does not know. And you know, one never knows how people are going to take that sort of thing. I am an old and trusted customer now, and for many amiable reasons I should prefer that things remained exactly on their present footing.)””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “Kipps” by H.G. Wells, 1905 (excerpt)
A whimsical, rambling description of a quirky bookseller named Kipps, blending mundane details with absurd humor, reflecting on identity and social pretensions.
In simple terms: A strange bookseller is described in a playful, confusing monologue.
Notice how narrative can blur fact and fiction for effect.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- visiting a bookshop
- meeting eccentric locals
- discussing literature
- exploring class dynamics
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does the narrator’s confusion affect your perception of Kipps?
- What does the shop represent in terms of social aspiration?
The convoluted style may confuse readers, obscuring the core message.