Tono-Bungay
About this audiobook
“Tono-Bungay. Like Mountain Air in the Veins.”
Tono-Bungay is a patented medicine that promises it all: health, beauty, and strength. George Ponderevo, the narrator of this story, is persuaded by the inventor of the medicine—his Uncle Edward—to help develop the Tono-Bungay business. George devotes seven years of his life to doing so, despite believing that the whole operation is “a damned swindle.”
After breaking free in a new direction, however, George’s ties with his uncle continue to shape his life, as do various social forces.
This coming-of-age novel explores themes including religious skepticism, socialism, ennui, English society, sexual relationships, and metaphysics, as George searches for an ideal to which he can devote his life. Like all Wells’s novels, Tono-Bungay abounds with social critique.
This novel was published in 1909 and is semi-autobiographical.
About the author
Herbert George Wells (1866–1946) was born in Bromley, England to a working class family. His first novel, The Time Machine, was an instant success and Wells produced a series of science fiction novels which pioneered ideas about the future. His later work focused on satire and social criticism. Wells forecasted the rise of major cities and suburbs, economic globalization, and aspects of future military conflicts.
Marty Krzywonos is an actor, director, music producer, writer, associate producer, and editor. He is known for Creed II, Black Swan, and Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. He has a BA in vocal and has performed professionally with a band called New York Experience, along with performances in regional theatre. He writes music for plays and conducts orchestras. He even tap dances.
