Kipps

'Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul' by H. G. Wells is a heartwarming novel about the life of Arthur «Artie» Kipps, an illegitimate orphan who is raised by his elderly aunt and uncle. As he attends school in Hastings, he befriends Sid Pornick and falls in love with his younger sister, Ann. When he is apprenticed to the Folkestone Drapery Bazaar, run by Mr. Shalford, Ann gives him half a sixpence as a symbol of their love. Through his experiences at the Bazaar and later in London, Artie learns about the social class divide and struggles to reconcile his humble upbringing with his newfound wealth. Wells masterfully crafts a tale that explores themes of love, identity, and social mobility, making it a timeless classic.