The Invisible Man

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.

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.

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?