'The Passionate Friends' (1913) by H G Wells

'The Passionate Friends' is a novel that delves into the complexities of love, personal freedom, and social constraints through the lens of a love triangle. The story centers on Stephen Stratton, a man caught between his deep, unfulfilled love for Mary, a woman he has known since childhood, and his duty to honor her marriage to a powerful aristocrat, Sir Justin.

Through Stephen's reflections, the novel examines the tension between romantic desire and social obligations. Stephen and Mary share a profound emotional and intellectual connection, yet they both understand that their relationship would be unacceptable in their society. As they struggle with their feelings, they discuss Wells’s themes of love, autonomy, and the limitations imposed by societal expectations. Stephen dreams of a society where relationships can be more open and flexible, without the rigidity of marriage as an institution.

Wells uses the characters’ interactions to question the traditional views of marriage and love, advocating for more freedom and honesty in personal relationships. Ultimately, The Passionate Friends is a critique of societal norms that restrict individual happiness, exploring the consequences of loving in a world that doesn’t accept certain kinds of relationships. Through this, Wells reflects his own progressive ideas about human relationships and the evolving nature of societal structures.