I haven’t really read much H.G. Wells. Except for his extraordinary Experiment in Autobiography, which I reported on about a year ago, I believe. Extraordinary and unique mind, good political instincts, out of sync with most of the world.
I just read his short novel, “The Invisible Man” – simple story: doctor begins to be interested in the prospect of light and why translucent substances are translucent, gives up medicine, figures out how to make first a cat and then himself disappear. He thinks he will have a wonderful time, being able to go anywhere and do anything (and steal anything) without anyone seeing him. But he hadn’t really thought it through, I guess – he is only invisible when naked, and his feet hurt when he walks and he is sensitive to the weather in winterish England. And when he eats, you can see the food until it is completely digested. (Toilet matters are not discussed, but must have been problematic.)
So he needs clothes, but then people can tell he has no face, or hands, so he needs gloves and a mask. And he must eat alone, but how does he do that three times a day?
Yes, his life is not what he thought it would be. And it is even worse than he first realized it was when people began to speculate that there was an invisible man afoot (speculation that he, in his sinisterly playful manner, abetted).
It would only be a matter of time.
Should you read the book? It’s simple (except on the pages talking about reflection and refraction), takes no mental strength to understand and there is no moral ambiguity. It’s by and large a relaxing read. So why not?
Arthur Thinks (He Thinks) 