The War of The Worlds. Heinemann Cheaper Novel Series

WELLS, H. G.;

Published by London William Heinemann 1920

Size 7 x 4.5 inches. Bound in original red cloth lettered & decorated in black on spine and front. In good condition. Corners & lower spine are bumped with some rubbing to edges and corners. A couple of small marks to rear cloth with faint crease. Inside pages tanned. Else generally clean & tight. 192pp. The original story of this book was serialised in "Pearson's" from April - December 1897 with illustrations by Warwick Goble, before it was issued in volume form by Heinemann the following year. "According to Wells himself, the idea for this exciting novel came from his brother Frank. The pair were walking through some peaceful Surrey scenery one evening, when Frank remarked: Suppose some being from another planet were to drop out of the sky suddenly and began laying about them here. - The idea appealed to Wells, and the novel was written. Even today it makes terrifying reading, largely because the setting of the novel, Woking, and its environs, is normally so peaceful, just like the towns in which most of us live. By using such familiar surroundings Wells heightened the horror of his story, and its message, which has never ceased to alarm people. Well's imagination was so meticulous and vivid that in 1938 a radio adaptation of the novel by ORSON WELLES was believed to be a real announcement of Martians landing, and produced a panic-stricken stampede out of New York City - one of the most memorable moments of Radio History" (BMC 1991). Seller Inventory # 96476

Bibliographic Details

Title: The War of The Worlds. Heinemann Cheaper ...
Publisher: London William Heinemann 1920