A.B. McKillop
The Spinster and the Prophet
H.G. Wells, Florence Deeks,
and the Case of the Plagiarized Text

"… It is a compelling story, part mystery, part legal thriller, always sympathetic to the intrepid Deeks, a woman trying to get a fair hearing in a man's world. McKillop's narrative directly challenges earlier accounts of Deeks v. Wells, which were all too eager to paint the plaintiff as a frustrated, obsessed spinster. The result is a wonderfully complex portrait of the two protagonists: Deeks, a shy, earnest, lionhearted woman; Wells, a bold, sexually promiscuous literary giant. The author handles the dual story line brilliantly, weaving together the two opposing characters into one altogether gripping tale of literary theft." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"The unsavory details of a plagiarism case brought against H.G. Wells in the 1920s by a Toronto woman, arguing that, although several courts dismissed the suit, history should not.… McKillop artfully intercuts the stories of Deeks and Wells (his prolific writing and serial sexual encounters contend for attention here) and presents compelling evidence that Wells must have consulted her book as he quickly fashioned his own.… A splendidly written story of injustice and male chauvinism, guaranteed to bring the blood to a full-rolling boil." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Winner of the Toronto Book Award, the University of British Columbia President's Medal for Biography, and the Albert Ellis Award of the Crime Writers of Canada for best true crime. Shortlisted for the Governor General's Award.

THE DEFENDANT
H.G. Wells, author, social reformer, philanderer. In 1920 Macmillan published Wells's The Outline of History, a history of the world and his biggest best-seller. He wrote the book (1,300+ pages) in eighteen months, a death-defying speed — even for this literary lion.

THE PLAINTIFF
Florence Deeks, amateur historian, feminist, spinster. Deeks wrote an unpublished history of the world with a particular emphasis on the role women played. She submitted the work to Macmillan, Wells's North American publisher. After holding the manuscript for eight months, Macmillan returned it in a noticeably worn condition.

THE SETTING
Both sides of the Atlantic in the courtrooms, the legal and publishing offices, and the bedrooms (in Wells's case) where the action takes place.

THE COURT CASE
Deeks v. Wells, Deeks sues Wells in 1925 for $500,000, claiming an act of "literary piracy."

THE QUESTION READERS WILL ANSWER FOR THEMSELVES
Did H.G. Wells plagiarize Florence Deeks? The old boys' network of the time said no. History in McKillop's able hands suggests otherwise.

A.B. McKillop is one of Canada's leading historians of ideas. A professor of history at Carleton University, he is the award-winning author of works on the history of religion, science, philosophy, and education.