Hermsprong
or, Man as He is Not
by Robert Bage
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Pub Date May 12 2026 | Archive Date Not set
P-Wave Press | P-Wave Classics
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Description
A radical outsider, a fearless heroine and a society laid bare
Volume I of a three-volume edition
First published in 1796, Robert Bage’s Hermsprong; or, Man as He is Not is a daring novel of social satire and progressive thought. Hermsprong, an American-raised gentleman untouched by Britain’s rigid class system, confronts the corruption, pretension and hypocrisy of the English elite.
At the centre of the story is Maria Fluart, one of the most striking heroines of the age. Witty, outspoken and unafraid to challenge the men around her—even brandishing a pistol when pressed—she embodies a spirited independence rarely seen in fiction of the period.
Bage himself was admired by Sir Walter Scott, yet Hermsprong has long been overlooked. Satirical and humane, it offers a fearless defence of equality, sincerity and freedom of thought.
This new three-volume P-Wave Classics edition features an original introduction and extensive notes, situating Bage’s remarkable novel in the ferment of the late Enlightenment and the early Romantic age.
Edited with notes and an introduction by L.A. Davenport.
This volume contains the Biographical Introduction, Editorial Note and the opening part of the novel.
A Note From the Publisher
- Biographical introduction and full new introduction in Volume I
- Extensive explanatory notes throughout the text
- A neglected Enlightenment-era social satire
- Features the striking heroine Maria Fluart
- Written in the political aftermath of the American and French Revolutions
- Prepared for modern readers with accessible, lightly modernised text
- Volumes II and III forthcoming
Perfect for readers of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, William Godwin’s Caleb Williams, Mary Wollstonecraft’s Maria; or, The Wrongs of Woman, and the satirical novels of Thomas Love Peacock.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781916937284 |
| PRICE | £10.99 (GBP) |
| PAGES | 186 |
Available on NetGalley
Average rating from 2 members
Featured Reviews
Bookseller 2007231
Robert Bage's Hermsprong; or, Man as He is Not is a masterful blend of sharp social satire and progressive ideals. With its fearless heroine, Maria Fluart, and its critique of societal hypocrisy, this novel is both thought-provoking and entertaining. A timeless gem that champions equality and freedom!
Richard L, Educator
4.5 stars
Written in 1796 and every bit as sharp today, this is a witty and sardonic look at English society, poking fun at inherited rank, religious hypocrisy and the treatment of women with equal relish.
Hermsprong, raised among Native Americans and viewed with deep suspicion for it, sees straight through the pride and prejudice of polite English society in ways they find deeply uncomfortable. The real star, though, is Maria Fluart, his companion in crime, who defies male authority at every turn. Bage was clearly a man far ahead of his time!
The novel runs out of steam slightly towards the end, but that’s a minor quibble. If you enjoy dry, ironic wit with genuine moral bite, this is well worth your time.
Congrats to the editor Davenport, who deserves credit for making this so accessible. The footnotes explain everything from classical references to 18th-century legal terms and social customs, so nothing gets lost in translation.
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