'Love and Mr Lewisham' (1900) by H G wells

'Love and Mr. Lewisham' is a novel that explores the intersection of personal ambition, love, and social class. The story follows Mr. Lewisham, a young and idealistic science teacher in England, who is committed to self-improvement and grand future plans for success. He keeps a "Schema," a detailed life plan, focused on advancing his career and avoiding emotional distractions like love.

However, his life takes a significant turn when he meets Ethel Henderson, a former pupil of his. Despite his initial determination to avoid romantic entanglements, he falls in love with her, leading him to abandon some of his ambitions. The novel charts Lewisham's internal struggle between following his well-laid plans for a successful career and his growing emotional attachment to Ethel.

As their relationship progresses, Mr. Lewisham faces financial difficulties and disillusionment with his dreams of greatness. He marries Ethel, but the realities of their marriage, compounded by class differences and financial pressures, complicate his once-clear path to success. The couple's relationship is further strained by Ethel's involvement with a mysterious older man, Mr. Lagune, who claims to have psychic powers and influences Ethel's decisions.

Throughout the novel, Lewisham grapples with the conflict between his intellectual aspirations and his emotional needs. In the end, he comes to terms with the limitations of his ambitions and the importance of compromise and human connection, realizing that love, though it may disrupt his original plans, is a crucial part of life.

Love and Mr. Lewisham is a story about the tension between idealism and the realities of life, as well as the complexities of love and ambition in a rapidly changing society. Wells presents a critique of rigid societal structures and highlights the unpredictability of human emotion and relationships.