H.G. Wells' "The History of Mr. Polly" traces the back-story of Mr Polly and just how he got into the 'Beastly Silly Wheeze' of his current predicament. At the age of 37 (the Edwardian version of middle age) Polly is tired of his dead-end job as a draper and his nagging wife, Miriam. He sits on the edge of bankruptcy and decides the only solution is to burn down his shop and kill himself. However, things don't exactly go to plan and Polly is given a new chance at life. But can he really change?