Impressions and Comments

"Impressions and Comments" by Havelock Ellis is a journal of the author's ideas and observations from the start of the 1900s. The book records the author's views on subjects ranging from the state of society to art and nature. It gives the reader a look into human actions and the cultural changes happening in a quickly modernizing world. To begin the book, Ellis shares why he wants to share his notes, comparing them to leaves that show his personal experiences with the world. He tells of a scene he watched late at night, where a troubled young woman tries to keep herself upright against a wall, unnoticed until a kind woman asks if she is okay. This moment shows Ellis's worry about the growing lack of care between people in cities and the role of women in giving instinctive support. The story continues through different thoughts on life and art, leading to a series of thoughtful observations that explore the good and bad of human life.