'The New Machiavelli' (1911) by H G Wells

'The New Machiavelli' is a novel that explores the clash between personal and political life in the story of Richard Remington, a fictional politician whose life mirrors the values and dilemmas of early 20th-century Britain.

The novel is structured as Remington’s confessional memoir, where he reflects on his ambitions, his desire for social reform, and the difficult choices that lead to his eventual downfall. He is deeply influenced by Machiavelli's teachings on power, though he seeks to modernize these ideas with a more humanitarian vision. As he rises through British politics, Remington champions progressive reforms, but his career is complicated by his affair with a free-spirited woman, Isabel Rivers, which scandalizes society and ultimately costs him his position.

Wells uses Remington's life to critique both the hypocrisy within political institutions and the constraints that society places on individual freedom. The novel is notable for its exploration of sexual and political morality, especially in a time when personal choices had profound social consequences. Through Remington’s struggles, Wells examines how idealism often comes into conflict with the demands of real-world politics, drawing parallels to his own social and political views.