# Dr. Winkles — The Food of the Gods character guide

> Dr. Winkles in The Food of the Gods by H. G. Wells.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Winkles, Doctor Stephen Winkles, Doctor Winkles

**First appearance:** 0006-ii-the-experimental-farm

## Snapshot

A garrulous, self-important scientist who coins the name 'Boomfood,' spreads alarm about the discovery, and angles for a seat on the Royal Commission.

## Who they are

Dr. Winkles is the meddling popularizer whose chatter about the Food does more to inflame public opinion than any deliberate attack. He drops the loaded nickname 'Boomfood,' alarms people with talk of what might happen, and cheerfully angles for a place on the Royal Commission to 'put the whole thing right.' His vanity and loose tongue make him an unwitting ally of Caterham and a thorn in Redwood's and Bensington's sides.

## In the story

### [Book I: The Dawn of the Food](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/book-i-the-dawn-of-the-food)

Takes an interest in the Food after hearing about the giant chicks.

### [The Giant Chick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii)

Mentioned as Redwood's former pupil and the family doctor, who is unaware of the experiment.

### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii)

Mentioned as having initially been praised for the child's growth, but now viewed with suspicion.

### [IV: The Giant Children](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv-the-giant-children)

Becomes a leading public advocate for Boomfood and advises Bensington and Redwood on managing its reputation.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii)

Winkles actively promotes the Food, minimizes its dangers, and tries to learn its secret, positioning himself as a key figure.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii)

Arrives unannounced; reveals he may be on the Royal Commission and requests powders for a child of an Exalted Personage.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv)

Mentioned as having involved the Princess of Weser Dreiburg; Redwood describes him as incapable of grasping the true implications.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/vi)

Mentioned as having given the Food to his youngest boy, who failed to grow, contrasting with the success of the Cossar boys.

### [The Minimificence of Mr. Bensington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/v-the-minimificence-of-mr-bensington)

Attempts to analyze Herakleophorbia IV in his garden laboratory at Keston, causing the first leakage.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i)

Winkles secretly attempts to analyze Herakleophorbia IV in his garden laboratory, leading to the leakage.

### [Chapter II: The Flight of Mr. Bensington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii)

Mentioned as the source of the new centers of distribution, each corresponding to one of his patients, though he avoids blame.

### [Book II: The Food in the Village](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/book-ii-the-food-in-the-village)

Takes an interest in the Food and its effects on the village children.

### [I: The Coming of the Food](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i-the-coming-of-the-food)

Described as an eminent leader of modern thought who denies any essential change; later writes an insulting letter to Redwood.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i)

Cited as an eminent leader of modern thought who insisted there was 'no change in the essential order of things.'

### [The Discovery at Cheasing Eyebright](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/vi)

Winkles shows Redwood the insulting anonymous letter that leads to the discovery.

### [II: The Giant Lovers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii-the-giant-lovers)

Mentioned as having played a great part in the early nutrition of the giant Princess.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i)

Mentioned in connection with the early nutrition of the giant Princess.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/winkles
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters