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Book Review: The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
October 11, 2013 By Jessica Filed Under: Book Review 20 Comments
The Invisible Man
This masterpiece of science fiction is the fascinating story of Griffin, a scientist who creates a serum to render himself invisible, and his descent into madness that follows.
I really liked the writing in The Invisible Man , but I thought the storytelling was awful. H. G. Wells has a way with words and I really enjoyed his turn of phrase. Phrases like “the inhuman bludgeoning of all tentative advances of curiosity (p. 19),”violently firing out its humanity (p. 33)” and “The Anglo-Saxon genius for parliamentary government asserted itself; there was a great deal of talk and no decisive action (p. 28).” And he uses the word “hobbledehoy” which had the Downton Abbey fangirl in me grinning. But the story itself moved at a snail pace. It took me a week to read 30 pages. I thought it was told from the least interesting perspective possible –from the outside observers instead of the invisible man’s view and what he was struggling with. These outsiders noticed something was not quite right (“Look how much time he spends alone!”) but not to the point that I found it very interesting. When the plot finally picked up, instead of some much needed action the cool stuff was recapped in a conversation where he just describes all the action in the most dull way imaginable. I had to make myself finish this book and keep pencils far, far away from my eyes.
The science behind the invisibility was pretty interesting. It was based on the idea that our world is an illusion of light. I thought that was a fascinating way to look at the world. (See I didn’t hate everything about it).
I found the main character interesting if not likable. He’s an anti-hero. I’m pretty sure his antagonist was all the stupid people in the whole world. He was kind of arrogant. Obviously he learns the bad things about invisibility. I was surprised about the little things that he struggles with, though. I could tell a lot of thought went into what it would really be like. For example, the fact that he can’t sleep because his eyelids are invisible. The crappy thing about being invisible is that it’s easy to get things, but hard to enjoy them. And you get kind of lonely. H. G. Wells did have a good point that the only really good use for invisibility is murder.
I’m not sure if I was supposed to get something out of this book. At the end I felt like the moral was “Mean people suck but it’s better than being alone.”
Overall , I found it tedious but the writing was good. I enjoyed War of the Worlds so much more.
Content Rating : None.
About H. G. Wells
Herbert George Wells, better known as H. G. Wells, was the third son of a shopkeeper. After two years' apprenticeship in a draper's shop, he became a pupil-teacher at Midhurst Grammar School and won a scholarship to study under T. H. Huxley at the Normal School of Science, South Kensington. He taught biology before becoming a professional writer and journalist.
Wells is most famous today for his science fiction novels, of which the best known are: The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds, The Invisible Man, The First Men in the Moon and The Island of Dr. Moreau. He was a prolific writer, writing more than a hundred books of both fiction and non-fiction, and works in many different genres, including contemporary novels, essays, histories, programmes for world regeneration, and social commentary. He was also an outspoken socialist. His later works become increasingly political and didactic, and only his early science fiction novels are still widely read today. Wells and Jules Verne are each sometimes referred to as "The Fathers of Science Fiction".
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- Dusty Bookshelf 2013
- eBook Challenge 2013
October 11, 2013 at 9:54 am
It has been a while since I’ve tackled an H.G. Wells book. I feel like all those old school classic horror stories, Frankenstein, Dracula, The Invisible Man, etc., are told from an outside source. I don’t know why they did it that way, but I’d like a better POV as well!
October 11, 2013 at 5:07 pm
I am disappointed to hear that The Invisible Man wasn’t very good. I have read other books by him that I had enjoyed. It sounds like I would share your frustrations, if I read it. Great review.
February 2, 2018 at 12:36 am
yes it is clearly a frustrations. :)
July 19, 2015 at 7:07 am
I felt very happy after reading the book of INVISIBLE MAN by “H.G WELL”
October 30, 2015 at 7:48 am
I enjoyed reading Invisible Man. I found the plot intresting. But I didn’t like the hero having a tragic end.
June 19, 2016 at 12:14 pm
The book is quite interesting. I enjoyed i as I like reading science fiction.
June 20, 2016 at 1:28 am
June 21, 2016 at 3:05 am
yeah, what a story !! one must read this story ones in his life
June 22, 2016 at 7:21 am
Its suprlerb book it was in my course of class 12 by CBSE when I starting reading I felt I am watching a suspense movie…. Awsm novel
September 15, 2016 at 2:17 am
Yaeh !!!!!!!!Courteous contribution by Wells,isn’t it?It was on my english book when I thought It was bewildering one in my course book.
November 1, 2016 at 10:56 am
It was a mystery story
May 21, 2017 at 12:14 pm
It has very interesting story It really enjoyed this FANTABOLOUS👍👍👍👍👍👍 It is very easy to understand😇😇
May 27, 2017 at 7:38 am
Wanna Nice Book!!! This is thee most wonderful book I have ever read!! All Hail HG Wells!! This book is the most wonderful science friction.
June 9, 2017 at 8:16 am
It was a wonderful story by H. G. Wells. I really liked it. And I think everyone should read this story
February 3, 2018 at 12:44 am
I really enjoyed The Invisible Man.. It was fantastic ….👍👍
February 26, 2018 at 12:43 pm
hate this novel I want to be a scientist and novels which depict scientist as an arrogant man is completely baseless. i liked griffin very much ,no one has noticed his reason why he was killing people .
before having an idea for reign of terror he claimed that he would be working with kemp so as to find solution to his invisibility problem. but the betrayal from his college professor and peole he encountered has made him wild. he hated when people didnt understand him as a criminal rather than a person
December 22, 2018 at 1:46 pm
Wow, I liked your comment. ‘Cause it is sad that people sometimes don’t even want to try understand the perspectives of all the characters. And you really put yourself in really Griffin place.
June 13, 2019 at 12:54 am
I like your review
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Movie Reviews
'the invisible man': when danger is present — and clear.
Scott Tobias
Celia (Elisabeth Moss) can't see ya, in The Invisible Man . Universal Pictures hide caption
Celia (Elisabeth Moss) can't see ya, in The Invisible Man .
Of the Universal classic monsters — Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, The Mummy, et al. — The Invisible Man is by far the most destructive, the most psychotic, and, not coincidentally, the most recognizably human of them all. (As played by Claude Rains, he's also the wittiest.) When a man doesn't have to look at himself in the mirror, he divorces himself from the moral accountability that curbs his worst instincts. Arrogance and contempt are his defining character traits, and invisibility has the effect of weaponizing them, because his scientific genius has both isolated him from other people and heightened his superiority complex.
With his ingenious updating of The Invisible Man , writer-director Leigh Whannell changes perspective from the mad scientist to the terrified victim he's stalking, which effectively turns the film into Gaslight with a horror twist. And with an actress of Elisabeth Moss' caliber in the lead role, the film has a psychological realism that's unusual for the genre, with Moss playing a woman who's withstanding a form of domestic abuse that may have a supernatural component, but feels sickeningly familiar in many respects. Invisibility has the effect of elevating a person's worst instincts, so it follows that the manipulation and torment she experiences is just a more extreme version of common behaviors.
The brilliant opening sequence underlines this theme by removing all science fiction from the equation. In the middle of the night, Cecelia (Moss) slips away from the bed she shares with her scientist husband Adrian (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) and carries out a plan to leave him for good. There are obstacles to the plan, like the lonely cliffside location of their house and the high-tech security he's installed as much to keep her in as to keep intruders out. But at this point in the film, Adrian is still a visible menace and Cecelia has to dash out into the night to escape him, as if this was an ordinary case of domestic battery.
'Insidious: The Last Key' Unlocks The Series' Past. Again.
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In 'her smell,' elisabeth moss 'turned it up to 11,' then turned it up some more.
Except it's not remotely ordinary. Cecelia has her sister Emily (Harriet Dyer) drop her off at the house of an old friend, James (Aldis Hodge), a well-built policeman who offers her protection and allows her to bunk with his daughter (Storm Reid). Cecelia can hardly bring herself to leave the house until she gets word from Emily that Adrian has committed suicide and that she's due for a multi-million dollar payoff from his brother (Michael Dorman), a lawyer who's managing his sizable estate. Yet she cannot shake the feeling that Adrian is still present, due to a series of events that are minor at first—a grease fire in the kitchen, a misplaced set of plans—but soon turn violent. And it always looks like she's responsible: Who else could have done these awful things?
Whannell came to Hollywood as a writer partner to director James Wan, a fellow Australian, and the two hit it big with the original Saw movie, Dead Silence , and the Insidious franchise, but as Wan graduated to big-budget affairs like The Conjuring , Furious 7 , and Aquaman , Whannel has stayed in the genre trenches. The third Insidious film was his directorial debut, but he made a huge leap with Upgrade , a gripping low-budget thriller that suggested David Cronenberg, The Matrix , Ozploitation, and Hong Kong action cinema all rolled into one. The Invisible Man has the same pulp qualities of his other work, but with a more sophisticated deployment of effects, with a lot of patient scene-building and an active, insinuating camera.
As Cecelia gets pushed to the brink of madness — as much by not be believed as being stalked — Whannell gives the suspense set pieces plenty of room to breathe and take on a paranoid flavor. Moss and the camera are co-conspirators in horror: She imagines Adrian watching her silently from some empty corner of a room and the camera seems to affirm her worst fears, suggesting a presence through odd angles and pans across the space. Where another actor might look foolish swatting and wrestling thin air, Moss sells it as part of the overall choreography between an immensely powerful, destructive husband and a wife struggling to leverage control over a desperate situation.
Whannell hasn't sorted through some of the stickier elements of the plot — the film substitutes horror logic for logic-logic — and The Invisible Man can occasionally feel like a dressed-up version of '90s domestic violence thrillers like Sleeping with the Enemy or Unlawful Entry . Yet with Universal trying and failure to revivify the monsters in its vault with stinkers like The Mummy and Dracula Untold , Whannell has succeeded by deemphasizing blockbuster effects and engaging with an old monster in a new way. He's created an invisible man for 2020 while still embracing the foundational terrors of 1933.
- Book Reviews
The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells – Book Review
Published 31/05/2017 · Updated 17/05/2022
The Invisible Man
Author – H.G. Wells Publisher – Alma Classics Pages – 192 Release Date – 23rd February 2017 ISBN-13 – 978-1847496294 Format – paperback Reviewer – Clive I received a free copy of this book Post Contains Affiliate Links
The mysterious Griffin arrives at a picturesque English inn during a snowstorm, swaddled in bandages which cover his face and with his eyes hidden behind dark glasses.
His odd get-up and irascible behaviour intrigue the locals, who believe him to be the victim of an accident. However, the true reason for Griffin’s outfit is far stranger: underneath those clothes, he is completely invisible. As the cause of Griffin’s state of transparency is revealed, his nefarious and destructive intentions become clear.
One of the foundational texts of science fiction, The Invisible Man has inspired numerous film and TV adaptations and remains chilling in its depiction of scientific experimentation gone wrong.
I have always been aware of the stories of H.G. Wells but my interest in him was really sparked when I read David Lodge’s biography, ‘A Man of Parts’, a couple of years ago. H.G. certainly lived a colourful life!
Here Alma Classics have republished one of his earliest books and I found it very enjoyable. The science has some grounding but I got lost on the explanation as to how the invisibility was actually achieved.
The story relies heavily on the lead character’s condition which leads to some excellent knock-about comedy, described extremely well. As with all good tales there is an underlying moral which in this case is the ancient message of be careful what you wish for.
For the aficionados this is not necessarily the original 1897 text. It is the 1924 Atlantic Edition updated for spelling and punctuation; not that I would have known any difference. Also, although the book is 192 pages long the actual story is just 175 pages with the remainder being Alma’s usual notes, a short biography and a bibliography.
There is no doubt that H.G. Wells has a great descriptive style. Although the words are familiar the language can be different with a turn of phrase that often excited me. My favourite example was the sentence that ended: “… and then woke up with a curious persuasion of something wrong.” Wonderful.
Given the brevity of the book and Alma’s modest prices what excuse can there be for not reading this classic, you will not be disappointed. The Invisible Man is well worth four stars.
Book Reviewed by Clive
Purchase links.
Herbert George Wells was born in Bromley, Kent, England, on September 21, 1866. His father was a professional cricketer and sometime shopkeeper, his mother a former lady’s maid. Although “Bertie” left school at fourteen to become a draper’s apprentice (a life he detested), he later won a scholarship to the Normal School of Science in London, where he studied with the famous Thomas Henry Huxley. He began to sell articles and short stories regularly in 1893.
In 1895, his immediately successful novel rescued him from a life of penury on a schoolteacher’s salary. His other “scientific romances” – The Island of Dr. Moreau (1896), The Invisible Man (1897), The War of the Worlds (1898), The First Men in the Moon (1901), and The War in the Air (1908) – won him distinction as the father of science fiction.
Henry James saw in Wells the most gifted writer of the age, but Wells, having coined the phrase “the war that will end war” to describe World War I, became increasingly disillusioned and focused his attention on educating mankind with his bestselling Outline of History (1920) and his later utopian works. Living until 1946, Wells witnessed a world more terrible than any of his imaginative visions, and he bitterly observed: “Reality has taken a leaf from my book and set itself to supercede me.”
Tags: Alma Books Amazon Author Book Book Blog Book Blogger Book Review Book Reviewer Classic Clive ebook Fiction Four Stars H.G Wells Kindle Paperback Review
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The Invisible Man (H. G. Wells, Book Review) 3 min read
This book review looks at The Invisible Man, a science fiction novel by H.G. Wells that was published in 1897. The novel tells the story of a scientist who discovers a way to make himself invisible and then uses his power to terrorize the people around him.
The book was very ahead of its time, dealing with themes of science gone wrong and the dangers of knowledge being used for evil purposes. It is considered one of the first true science fiction novels and is still relevant and entertaining today.
Plot Summary
The book begins with a mysterious stranger arriving in the English town of Iping during a snowstorm. The stranger, who is never named, takes up residence at the local inn and keeps to himself, only leaving his room at night wearing a long coat and hat that covers his entire body.
The townsfolk become suspicious of the stranger and start to gossip about him. One night, the innkeeper’s daughter, Peggy, sees the stranger removing his bandages and realizes that he is invisible. She tells her father, who then tries to blackmail the Invisible Man into giving him money.
The Invisible Man becomes enraged and starts terrorizing the townspeople. He vandalizes houses, robs banks, and generally causes havoc wherever he goes. The police are powerless to stop him and eventually he escapes to London.
In London, he takes up residence in a boarding house and befriends a young woman named Flora Cranley. However, he soon grows tired of her company and decides to terrorize her as well. After driving her to the brink of madness, he finally reveals his true identity to her.
At this point, the police have finally caught up with him and he is wounded in a shootout. He flees to a nearby cottage that belongs to an old friend from medical school named Griffin (the Invisible Man’s real name). Griffin has been living in isolation for years trying to perfect his invisibility serum but has gradually become insane in the process.
Griffin agrees to help the Invisible Man escape from the police but only if he agrees to help Griffin complete his experiments. However, once they have successfully made another person invisible, Griffin decides that he wants to use his powers for evil instead of good. The two men fight and Griffin is killed. The Invisible Man then disappears into the countryside, still invisible and still mad.”
The Invisible Man is a classic science fiction novel that is as relevant today as it was when it was first published over 100 years ago. If you are looking for a fast-paced read with plenty of action, this book is definitely for you!
If you intend to order this book from Amazon, I would be very grateful if you use the affiliate link below. Doing so won’t cost you any extra; it will just give me a small commission, and thereby make it possible for me to keep writing these book reviews. Thank you in advance!
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The Invisible Man
By h.g. wells.
'The Invisible Man' by H.G. Wells is a classic science fiction novel of the 19th century. It was published in 1897 and tells a unique story about a murderous man who turned himself invisible.
About the Book
Article written by Emma Baldwin
B.A. in English, B.F.A. in Fine Art, and B.A. in Art Histories from East Carolina University.
The novel is quite short and is usually categorized as a novella (one of several that Wells wrote throughout his life). Today, Griffin, better known as “the Invisible Man,” is an iconic character who has appeared in movies and television shows. But, despite his more favorable depiction in some of these adaptions, in Wells’ original novel, he is far from likable. From the beginning of the book, it becomes clear that he has no regard for anyone else and is solely focused on advancing his own experiments and carrying out his murderous “Reign of Terror.”
Spoiler Free Summary
The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells is a clever, short novella that describes the exploits of the “Invisible Man.” The man, whose real name is Griffin, turns up at an inn at the beginning of the book. A deep mystery surrounds his identity and intentions. But, it soon becomes clear that through his experimentations, he’s managed to turn himself invisible and is planning a “Reign of Terror” across the country. The small town residents recognize the danger he poses and do what they can to apprehend him.
The Invisible Man Summary
Spoiler alert: important details of the novel are revealed below.
The Invisible Man begins with the main character Griffin (later the Invisible Man), arriving at a local inn in the village of Iping in West Sussex, England. The man arrives in a snowstorm and is entirely covered by clothing. That is, except for his face, which is wrapped up in bandages. It’s clear that he has a prosthetic nose as well.
To match his eccentric appearance, Griffin has an unusual personality. He is reclusive and very unfriendly. This is something that does not sit well with the locals who, living in a small town, are used to knowing and getting along with everyone. The man wants to be left alone and spends almost all of his time in his room working with laboratory equipment. The only time he comes out is at night.
More than once, he causes accidents with his experiments. Mrs. Hall, who, along with her husband, owns the inn, demands that Griffin pays for the damage to their inn.
He continues to act oddly, ordering strange shipments to the hotel and becoming the talk of the town. Around that time, a burglary occurs in Iping at the same time that Griffin is known to be running out of money. He should be paying his bill but isn’t able to. It’s at this point that he reveals the truth of his invisibility to the innkeeper while he’s suffering a fit of anger.
They try to stop him, but, Griffin takes off his clothes and is therefore rendered entirely invisible. He flees to the South Downs, a coastal region of England, and there meets Thomas Marvel, a homeless man who Griffin wants to help complete another robbery. The two go back to the village along with Griffin’s notebooks. But, Thomas is not in the business of being ordered around and is fairly clever himself. He tries to betray Griffin, who reacts angrily and threatens to kill him. But Thomas escapes to Port Burdock.
Griffin takes shelter from locals in a nearby home belonging to Dr. Kent, an instructor he knew in medical school. It’s here that readers learn a bit more about Griffin’s history. He is a former medical student suffering from albinism who became entirely consumed by the possibility of turning himself invisible. Griffin explains to Kemp and to the reader how he experimented with invisibility. He tried it on a cat at first, burned down the boarding house in an attempt to cover his tracks, and realized, after the experiments worked, that he would struggle to survive.
He stole what he needed, and his already poor personality and selfish motives worsened. Griffin is trying to reverse his invisibility but has yet to succeed. Since it seems permanent, Griffin confides in Dr. Kemp that he plans to use his invisibility to terrorize the entire country.
Despite thinking he can trust Dr. Kemp, Griffin soon realizes that Kemp has denounced him to the authorities and is, at that very moment, waiting for help to arrive. The police turn up, and Griffin fights his way out of the house. He leaves Kemp a note, telling him that he’ll be the first person he kills during his reign of terror.
While running from the police, Griffin kills a bystander with an iron bar. He also shoots the chief of police and breaks into Dr. Kemp’s house. He tries to kill the man by strangling him. The mob successfully corners Griffin, and they beat him to death. At the end of the book, in an epilogue, it’s revealed that the homeless man, Thomas Marvel, has stolen Griffin’s notes and is trying to re-create his experiments with no success.
How does The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells end?
The book ends with Griffin being beaten to death by the residents of Iping. They find him at Dr. Kemp’s home and stop him before he can kill anyone else.
What are some themes in The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells?
Some of the themes of this unique novel are isolation, science (specifically the dangers that thoughtless scientific advancement pose), and community. The latter is seen through the way that the villagers of Iping work together to stop Griffin.
Who is the villain in The Invisible Man ?
The villain of H.G. Wells’ The Invisible Man is Griffin, the Invisible Man himself. He takes the role of the main character and antagonist. He is incredibly unlikeable and only becomes more so throughout the novel as it’s revealed that he has no real redeeming features.
What is the central message of The Invisible Man ?
The central message is that not all scientific advancement is good. Griffin makes incredible strides in his specific field of science. But, just because he discovered something new doesn’t mean that he should’ve.
About Emma Baldwin
Emma Baldwin, a graduate of East Carolina University, has a deep-rooted passion for literature. She serves as a key contributor to the Book Analysis team with years of experience.
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Book Review: The Invisible Man
The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells is a science-fiction novel about a man in England in the 1800s who creates a way to make himself completely invisible without a way to change it. The life of a scientist named Griffin, who uses his invisibility for harm, is described throughout the book with an unpredictable ending. I selected this book for a school report, but I would definitely recommend the book to read if wanting a novel that keeps you on edge and wanting more. I thought that this book was pretty good due to the mysterious plot and ending though there were some dragging parts. I believe it is worth the wait for the surprising ending that left me in shock. Reviewer Grade: 9
Ian Gregoire | Official Website
Your Future Favourite Fantasy & Science Fiction Author
Book Review: The Invisible Man By H.G. Wells
Beware the original mad scientist, book details.
H. G. Wells
Genre : Science Fiction Publisher : Penguin Classics Format : Paperback, 208 Pages Date : 31st March 2005 (First Published 1897)
ISBN-10 : 014143998X ISBN-13 : 9780141439983
There is a compelling case to be made that H.G. Wells is the most influential science fiction author of all time, ahead of such luminaries as Verne , Clarke and Asimov . Despite his notable limitations as a fiction writer, he was an exceptionally creative and original storyteller with an imagination unrivalled by his peers. Many of his ideas were truly ahead of their time. While it may be difficult to categorically state which of his published stories should be considered his definitive work (as there are several candidates), his 1897 novella, The Invisible Man , is arguably his best known work. It has been a hugely influential book, spawning numerous adaptations in other mediums, and been a source of inspiration to countless other writers. Little wonder that over a century after its first publication the story continues to be reprinted to this day.
Fittingly, coming from such a pioneering author, The Invisible Man: A Grotesque Romance (to give the book its full original title) is one of the earliest, if not the first example of the “Mad Scientist” trope: the conceit of the man of science who is so consumed by whether or not it is possible to accomplish a particular goal through science, he doesn’t stop to think about the possible negative ramifications of doing so, or wilfully chooses to ignore the potential consequences, which invariably results in disastrous outcomes. The invisible man of the story is just such a scientist—someone whose single-mindedness and lack of foresight, in regards to his quest to achieve invisibility, leads him to recklessly experiment on himself before he has devised a way to reverse the process. The book’s plot charts the increasingly desperate efforts of the invisible man to make himself visible again.
Though the craft of fiction writing was Wells’ most significant weakness as an author, his decision to write the story from the point of view of a third person narrator recounting events, after the fact, from second hand sources and hearsay, rather than first hand, proves to be very effective. As so little is revealed by the narrator about the invisible man, in terms of his inner thoughts, motivations or back-story (even his name, revealed to be Griffin, isn’t mentioned until late in proceedings), it forces the reader to make judgements about him based solely on his reported actions. This is possibly unfair in light of the fact that there is no way to be certain if the third person narrator is reliable or not. But it does lead to a number of thought-provoking questions about Griffin and his behaviour.
From the outset Griffin is depicted as a disagreeable, even unreasonable individual, which is initially understandable given the lengths he has to go to in order to conceal his predicament. But as the story progresses he becomes an entirely unsympathetic protagonist, as his obvious desperation to reverse his invisibility coincides with his increasingly erratic, ill-tempered conduct.
Due in large part to the lack of insight provided into his character, questions inevitably arise as to whether Griffin’s unhinged, and eventually murderous actions are a side effect of the process that made him invisible, or if it’s just symptomatic of his pre-existing personality. Certainly, Griffin comes across as a big time dick throughout the book, so it wouldn’t be unwarranted for readers to view his behaviour as akin to modern day internet trolls whose disruptive trolling activities can be attributed to the anonymity of not being seen by their victims, allowing them to behave in a fashion they wouldn’t dare otherwise; a view which is given some credence once Griffin goes on the rampage only after he has shed his disguise as a disfigured accident victim, embracing his invisibility, allowing him to terrorise the population of a small English town, unseen.
In the years since its initial publication, several academics have taken to highlighting the flaws in the science of Wells’ novella. Such nitpicking, though interesting from a scientific point of view, is ultimately irrelevant in the scheme of things as it has no bearing on the principle point to be derived from the story. And while it may or not have been Wells’ intention to make the following observation about the human condition, The Invisible Man does provide a clear, albeit extreme, illustration of some people’s propensity to engage in behaviour they wouldn’t ordinarily engage in when they cannot be seen by other people.
The one genuine flaw with the story is exhibited in Wells’ prose. Despite its status as a classic work of science fiction, it is hard to read The Invisible Man and not wonder how much better a story it would be if written by a more gifted wordsmith who could bless the narrative with stronger descriptive writing and more compelling characterisation. Someone like Jacqueline Carey or Guy Gavriel Kay , for example. But as the novella is in the public domain, there is no reason why a contemporary author couldn’t attempt to write a superior work, other than the obvious misgivings about re-working a book that is rightly held to be a classic.
In closing, The Invisible Man , much like the rest of Wells’ science fiction output is a great story that is somewhat marred by weak writing. Nonetheless, it is a thought-provoking and original tale, featuring a memorable, though unlikeable protagonist. A story that has been, and continues to be, very influential. Any reader with an interest in science fiction literature should certainly read the book at least once, as Wells and his stories are required reading for serious fans of the genre.
FINAL RATING
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Excellent review.
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Book Review
The invisible man.
- Science Fiction
Readability Age Range
- Barnes and Noble Classics, a trademark of Barnes and Nobel Inc.; republished in 2003 in The Time Machine and The Invisible Man
Year Published
The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells has been reviewed by Focus on the Family’s marriage and parenting magazine .
Plot Summary
The story opens in the town of Iping in pre-industrial England. A stranger covered in bandages and wearing blue goggles rents a room at a pub owned by George and Janny Hall. He tells Mrs. Hall that he is an experimental investigator. The stranger has a great deal of luggage, including numerous bottles of potions. He keeps mainly to himself, sometime loudly expressing anger and frustration as he works. Mrs. Hall has witnessed some odd sights, but she says nothing because they need his rent money.
One evening, the town vicar and his wife are robbed. They can’t see anyone, but they hear coughing and see items moving. Suspicions begin to mount against the stranger, and the police arrive at the Halls’ pub. As officers prepare to arrest the stranger on suspicion of burglary, he wiggles out of his clothes and escapes, completely invisible.
As he flees, he sees a man named Marvel on the road. The Invisible Man enlists Marvel to help him get clothing and necessities. His threats keep Marvel at his disposal for a time. He steals money and hands it off to Marvel. He also has Marvel keep several books in which he has recorded his experiments.
When Marvel gets a chance, he breaks away from the Invisible Man. Marvel has the police lock him up so the Invisible Man can’t reach him. The Invisible Man pursues Marvel until he comes upon the house of an old college acquaintance named Kemp.
The Invisible Man, who now reveals his name is Griffin, tells Kemp about his exploits in elaborate detail. He explains his research involving light that led to his discovery of the potential for invisibility. He was too poor to conduct his experiments, so he stole from his father. The money apparently belonged to someone else, so Griffin’s father committed suicide.
After testing his invisibility formula on a cat, Griffin took the potion himself to become invisible. It was a painful but effective process. Griffin was initially elated by the possibilities invisibility held for him. He quickly realized there were many downsides. He was forced from his home and had to wander naked or else be discovered.
Undigested food would show in his invisible stomach, thereby giving away his presence. At times, people saw him making footprints and tried to chase him. If he was carrying anything in his hands or on his body, those items could be seen. Griffin finally snuck into a shop and made himself a crude costume that allowed him to go out in public. After that, he began to rent a room from the Halls.
When the people of Iping discovered his secret, he was on the run once again. As Kemp listens, he is struck by Griffin’s madness and selfishness. The Invisible Man seems thoroughly unconcerned about the people he hurts. Griffin further explains that he plans to frighten and dominate the people of Kemp’s town, Port Burdock. He invites Kemp to join him in his efforts.
Griffin doesn’t know that Kemp has alerted the police. When they arrive, Griffin escapes and begins his reign of terror. He leaves Kemp a note, threatening him and the city. He attacks several, including the police chief, before he comes after Kemp. Kemp and some of the other townspeople catch and kill Griffin. As he dies, Griffin becomes visible once again.
The epilogue reveals that Marvel kept all of Griffin’s stolen money. He owns an inn, where he sometimes tells his stories about Griffin if he’s had enough to drink. He secretly kept Griffin’s journals and sometimes reads through the Invisible Man’s records of his experiments. He vows no one else will ever know about them until he dies.
Christian Beliefs
Mrs. Hall notes that Griffin doesn’t go to church. One townsperson, who fancies himself a theologian, compares Griffin to the biblical one-talent man.
Other Belief Systems
Authority roles.
Police officers try to capture and subdue Griffin on several occasions. He eludes or injures them.
Profanity & Violence
The Lord’s name is used in vain a number of times, as are the words d–n and a– . The n-word also appears once, but a footnote says the term probably refers to an Indian coolie or anyone working under harsh conditions. Griffin brutally injures and kills, and blood is sometimes shed.
Sexual Content
Discussion topics.
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The Invisible Man
35 pages • 1 hour read
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapters 1-6
Chapters 7-10
Chapters 11-15
Chapters 16-20
Chapter 21-Epilogue
Character Analysis
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
Discussion Questions
Summary and Study Guide
H. G. Wells is one of the earliest science fiction authors, sometimes referred to as the father of the genre . His 1897 novel, The Invisible Man , follows an albino scientist who discovers the secret to turning himself invisible. The novel’s blend of fantastical science and realistic, mundane detail is a signature of Wells. This novel has influenced generations of writers and artists, both through its powerful prose and fascinating plot, as well as for its critique of humanity through the concept of invisibility. The narrative style and depiction of an eccentric scientist made a strong impression on succeeding horror and thriller writers. The Invisible Man has been adapted into films, radio shows, comics, and has inspired many sequels.
This guide refers to the 2021 Amazon Print Edition.
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Plot Summary
A strangely dressed man arrives in the English countryside, looking for a room at the Coach and Horses Inn. He is wrapped in thick clothing and keeps his face hidden under bandages, a hat, and a pair of strange goggles. The townspeople don’t know what to make of this odd character; assuming he must have suffered a terrible accident, they try to honor his privacy. His incivility, however, soon becomes difficult to tolerate.
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When his scientific apparatuses arrive in the post, the stranger takes to his room, working feverishly to find the cure to his ailment: A scientist researching optics, he has discovered how to turn himself invisible—yet he cannot ascertain a way to reverse the experiment. Enormously frustrated by the predicament, he begins stealing money and physically threatening those who confront him. He is driven out of the village after his theft is discovered.
Eventually, he decides that the only way he can survive as an invisible man is with an accomplice. He recruits a homeless man named Thomas Marvel, threatening murder if Marvel ever exposes his secret or tries to escape. Marvel, under coercion, helps the Invisible Man acquire food and money. Together they travel the countryside, Marvel carrying sacks of gold, as well as the three books containing instructions for the invisibility serum.
The police are hunting for an invisible serial robber, and local newspapers widely circulate the story. This infamy makes it increasingly difficult for the Invisible Man to hide. Marvel, his miserable aid, attempts an escape—and the Invisible Man, true to his word, chases and tries to kill him. Marvel finds a police station and asks to be detained to be kept safe from his murderous pursuer.
Meanwhile, the Invisible Man stumbles into a home where he plans to steal provisions. He arrives unexpectedly in the home of Dr. Kemp , a former classmate. Kemp at first assumes that Griffin (the Invisible Man) is a good person whose experiment went horribly wrong. As Griffin recounts his tales of reckless theft and violence, however, Kemp is shocked. He secretly alerts the police, while assuring Griffin that he is safe and that they will work as partners. Kemp occupies Griffin by asking him to share the story of his invisibility. Griffin tells Kemp about his experiments, and the success he had with first turning a piece of cloth invisible, and then a white cat. Griffin describes the agony of turning himself invisible. He then relates the dismaying realization of how difficult it is to live invisibly.
Griffin says they must now find Marvel, who holds the three vital books. The police chief arrives at Kemp’s home but blunders the arrest. The Invisible Man escapes, enraged by Kemp’s betrayal. When he meets a bumbling man along his path, he beats him to death for no apparent reason beyond annoyance. He vows a Reign of Terror—starting with the execution of the traitorous Kemp.
Because Griffin has already divulged his methods for stealth and survival, Kemp informs the villagers and police of how to keep safe. When Griffin arrives at Kemp’s house, he steals a gun from an officer and then fights off the others with an ax. Griffin is shot and weakened. Kemp flees, and Griffin pursues. Just before Griffin can strangle Kemp, the villagers intervene. In the crush of bodies, Griffin dies. Only after his heart stops does his body slowly become visible again. The villagers are horrified by his appearance: a 30-year-old albino man with red eyes.
The Epilogue leaves the reader with Marvel, who sits alone in his home, poring over the prized books, trying to discover the secret to invisibility for himself. The ending is ambiguous: Will the books remain hidden, or will there soon be another invisible man?
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The Invisible Man
H. g. wells, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.
A strange man (later introduced as Griffin ) arrives in Iping and takes lodging at the Coach and Horses Inn. He is completely wrapped up in clothing, which he does not take off even after Mrs. Hall , who runs the inn, lights a fire for him. Mrs. Hall notices that Griffin’s face is also wrapped in bandages. Griffin is rude to her, and impatiently asks when he will be able to get his luggage from the train station. Later that day, Griffin explains that he is an “experimental investigator” and that he needs his equipment.
The following day, the carrier Fearenside brings Griffin’s luggage, which is filled with scientific equipment, handwritten notebooks , and crates of fluids, some of which are labeled Poison . Later that day, Mrs. Hall hears the sound of bottles smashing, and when she asks Griffin about this he tells her not to bother him, saying that she can add extra charges to his bill. Griffin stays at the inn for a number of months. He does not attend church or communicate with anyone outside of the village, and only goes out at night. The villagers gossip, inventing many different theories about him. The local doctor, Cuss , visits Griffin at the inn, and is shocked to see that his sleeve is completely empty where an arm should be—yet he still manages to pinch Cuss’s nose.
On the holiday of Whit Monday, Rev. Bunting and Mrs. Bunting wake up to sounds of the vicarage being burgled. They try to catch the robber, but cannot see anyone there. The same morning, Mr. Hall and Mrs. Hall notice that the door to Griffin’s room is open, and his bed is empty. They call Sandy Wadgers , the blacksmith, to change the locks so they can lock Griffin out, but while they are discussing this Griffin emerges from his room (though it had seemed empty before) and goes into the parlor, which he has been using as a personal study. He locks himself in and can be heard shouting and smashing things. Later, Mrs. Hall asks Griffin why he hasn’t paid his bill; when he offers her money, she is suspicious, as just days before he said he didn’t have anything.
When confronted by the villagers at the inn, Griffin takes off his bandages to reveal a “black cavity”—his invisible face. On learning the truth about Griffin, the villagers flee in horror. The local constable, Bobby Jaffers , attempts to arrest Griffin for burgling the vicarage, but fails and Griffin escapes.
Outside of Iping, Griffin seeks the help of a local “tramp,” Thomas Marvel . At first Marvel thinks he’s hallucinating when he hears a disembodied voice talking to him, but Griffin proves that he is real and invisible by throwing stones at him. Amazed, Marvel agrees to help Griffin, and returns to the Coach and Horses, where he seizes some of Griffin’s belongings from his room, including his notebooks. Dr. Cuss and Rev. Bunting had previously looked through the notebooks while Griffin was gone, but couldn’t understand their contents. Mr. Huxter attempts to catch Marvel but fails. Griffin smashes the windows of the inn and cuts the village’s telegraph wire before fleeing. Everyone in Iping is too scared to come out of their houses for two hours.
Marvel tries to quit his role as Griffin’s helper, but Griffin threatens to kill him if he betrays him. The next day, Marvel and Griffin reach the town of Port Stowe, and Marvel strikes up a conversation with a local mariner . The mariner tells him the rumors about the Invisible Man and shows him a newspaper article about the events in Iping. Marvel boasts that he knows about the Invisible Man from “private sources,” but after Griffin hurts him he goes back on his word and tells the mariner that the whole story is a hoax.
The narrative shifts to a man named Doctor Kemp as he sits in his office, which overlooks the town of Port Burdock. He is dismayed by local gossip about the Invisible Man and the “fools” who believe the story is real. Nearby, Marvel bursts into the Jolly Cricketers pub, explaining in terror that he needs help because the Invisible Man is after him. Griffin enters the pub too and there is a scuffle. One of the men in the pub shoots the air, attempting to hit Griffin.
Doctor Kemp’s doorbell rings, but his servant tells him that no one was there when she answered. Kemp then finds blood on his bedroom door handle and floor. In his bedroom, Griffin speaks to Kemp, and at first Kemp refuses to believe that he is really there. Griffin introduces himself, reminding Kemp that they studied together at University College London. Kemp eventually believes Griffin and gives him food and whiskey. He allows Griffin to sleep in his bedroom, and when he goes to sleep worries that Griffin might be insane and “homicidal.”
The next day, Griffin tells Kemp that years earlier, while researching light and optics, he discovered a way of turning living tissue invisible. He kept his findings to himself, worried that someone would steal them. After spending three years researching invisibility, Griffin realized that he would need money in order to actually conduct the experiment. He stole money from his father that did not actually belong to him, which led his father to shoot himself. Griffin admits that he did not feel guilt or sympathy for his father.
Griffin says he first tested his invisibility experiment on a piece of fabric, and then on his neighbor ’s cat. The cat’s pained meowing awoke his landlord , who grew suspicious of Griffin’s activities. Griffin then conducted the experiment on himself, successfully turning himself invisible. Aware of his landlord’s suspicions, he set his apartment on fire and fled. Out in the world, Griffin found it harder than he assumed to be invisible. He regularly bumped into people, was freezing because he could not wear clothes without being seen, and couldn’t eat, as food showed up in his stomach before it was fully digested. He robbed two different stores, but each time got perilously close to being discovered. He was eventually able to rob clothing and other items to disguise himself, wrapping himself up to conceal his invisibility from the world. He eventually traveled to Iping, hoping to continue his scientific research there.
Griffin tells Kemp that he plans to impose a “Reign of Terror,” killing people as he sees fit, in order to institute “the Epoch of the Invisible Man.” He hopes that Kemp will work with him, but Kemp warns him that he is choosing the wrong path. Colonel Adye then arrives at Kemp’s house, and on hearing this, Griffin shouts “Traitor!” and flees. Adye and Kemp warn everyone in the local area about Griffin’s plans, and a manhunt begins. Mr. Wicksteed , the steward to Lord Burdock , is found murdered on the grounds of Lord Burdock’s house. No one knows exactly what happened, but everyone agrees Griffin is responsible.
Griffin attacks Kemp and Adye at Kemp’s house, shooting Adye with his own gun. Kemp flees, begging for help from his neighbor Mr. Heelas , who refuses. Kemp runs into town being chased by Griffin. A mob of people descends on Griffin, and although Kemp begs them to have mercy, Griffin is beaten to death. His body becomes visible again as he dies.
In the epilogue, the narrator explains that after Griffin’s death, Marvel used the money he stole from him to become a landlord. He is now a respected man in the local area who has a “reputation for wisdom.” Sometimes Marvel shares his stories of the Invisible Man with passersby. However, he never reveals that he kept Griffin’s notebooks, which he keeps stored secretly and whose contents he does not understand.
The Invisible Man Book Summary, Quotes & Key Points
The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells is a science fiction novel that explores the dangers of unchecked power and the struggle for individual freedom. The protagonist, Griffin, is a scientist who discovers the secret of invisibility and uses it to create chaos and destruction in a small village in England. The story follows his descent into madness and his eventual downfall.
Table of Content
The Invisible Man Book Summary
Plot summary.
Griffin, a scientist, discovers the secret of invisibility and turns to a life of crime and violence. He arrives in a small village in England and begins to wreak havoc, stealing and causing destruction. The story follows his descent into madness as he becomes more and more isolated and paranoid. Eventually, he is captured and killed.
Character Analysis
Griffin is the protagonist of the novel, and his descent into madness is the focus of the story. Kemp is Griffin's former friend who helps the authorities capture him. Marvel is a tramp who becomes involved in Griffin's schemes and is eventually killed by him.
The novel explores the dangers of unchecked power, as Griffin's invisibility gives him the ability to do whatever he wants without consequences. It also delves into the consequences of isolation and loneliness, as Griffin becomes more and more isolated and paranoid. Finally, the struggle between individual freedom and societal expectations is a key theme, as Griffin's desire for freedom leads him to commit heinous crimes.
The novel is written in a suspenseful and thrilling style, with a focus on the psychological state of the protagonist. The use of invisibility as a plot device adds to the tension and creates a sense of unease throughout the story.
The Invisible Man Book Review
The Invisible Man is a classic science fiction novel that explores themes of power, isolation, and freedom. Wells' writing style is engaging and suspenseful, and the use of invisibility as a plot device adds to the tension and unease of the story. The character of Griffin is well-developed, and his descent into madness is both terrifying and tragic. Overall, The Invisible Man is a must-read for fans of science fiction and classic literature.
The Invisible Man Quotes
"An invisible man is a man of power."
"The fact is, the Time Traveller was one of those men who are too clever to be believed."
The Invisible Man Key Points
Science fiction elements.
The novel incorporates elements of science fiction, including the concept of invisibility and the use of scientific experimentation.
Social Commentary
The novel also serves as a commentary on society, particularly the dangers of unchecked power and the struggle for individual freedom.
FAQs for The Invisible Man
- What is the main theme of The Invisible Man? The dangers of unchecked power, the consequences of isolation and loneliness, and the struggle between individual freedom and societal expectations.
- Who is the protagonist of the novel? Griffin, a scientist who discovers the secret of invisibility.
- What is the scientific concept explored in the novel? Invisibility and the use of scientific experimentation.
- What is the social commentary in the novel? The dangers of unchecked power and the struggle for individual freedom.
- What is the writing style of the novel? Suspenseful and thrilling, with a focus on the psychological state of the protagonist.
- Who helps the authorities capture Griffin? Kemp, Griffin's former friend.
- What is the consequence of Griffin's isolation? He becomes more and more isolated and paranoid.
- What is the struggle explored in the novel? The struggle between individual freedom and societal expectations.
- What is the role of Marvel in the novel? Marvel is a tramp who becomes involved in Griffin's schemes and is eventually killed by him.
- What is the eventual fate of Griffin? He is captured and killed by the authorities.
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Book Review of The Invisible Man by H.G.Wells
- Category: Literature
- Topic: Book Review , Invisible Man
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About the author
About the novel, theme and setting of the novel, summary of the novel, recommendation :.
- Novel (“the invisible man”) by HG Wells
- Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._G._Wells
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