#47. THE INVISIBLE MAN By H G Wells

Published : 1897
Pages : 138
Overall Mark : 8/10

Wells's great novel describes a man cast out of society by his own terrifying discovery. Griffin is a brilliant and obsessed scientist diedicated to achieving invisibility. Taking whatever action is necessary to keep his discovery safe, he terrorises the local village where he has sought refuge. Wells skillfully weaves together the elements of the story as the invisible Griffin gradually loses his sanity and, ultimately, his humanity.

H. G. WELLS (1866-1946)
The son of a shopkeeper, Wells began to publish fiction in the 1890s. The Time Machine, published in 1895, heralded an extraordinary period of 6 years in which he published almost all the 'scientific romances' which made his fame. An early member of the Fabian Society (from which developed the Labour Party), he was for the last four decades of his life a world-famous writer and thinker.

VERDICT
For those who have seen the many horror versions of this classic sci-fi novel, you might be surprised to read this, as it is more of a flat drama than anything else. Granted, Griffin’s obsession with invisibility does have elements of horror, but the main draw of this book is the psychosis that affects him, rather than the attacks on those who might discover his secret.