The Wonderful Visit

Wells, H. G. (Herbert George), 1866-1946Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.8

Word count: 220K words
Chapters: 23

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Wonderful Visit by H. G. WellsAuthor: Wells, H. G. (Herbert George), 1866-1946,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Oct 19, 2010

Editor's review

The Wonderful Visit is an early novel by H. G. Wells with elements of fantasy and satire. Through the absurd premise of an angel straying into the English countryside, readers follow an outsider's eyes to re-examine everyday social customs, religious beliefs, and human prejudice. Wells tells the story in a light yet understated style, retaining the appeal of fantasy literature while weaving in gentle criticism of social reality; it is short and briskly paced. As a public-domain eBook, it is provided free by Project Gutenberg and easy to read on electronic devices at any time. It suits segmented reading during commutes, travel, or before bed, and also serves as an introductory work for understanding Wells's non-science-fiction writing; noting the clashes of ideas between the angel and the villagers while reading helps reveal the author's satirical intent.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy Wells's work and want to explore his non-science-fiction writing
Readers interested in fantasy satire and social customs as subject matter
Learners who want to practice English reading through public-domain English books
People who need a short electronic read for commutes or fragmented reading time

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting hard science fiction or apocalyptic Wells
Readers who prefer tight suspense plots and lack patience
Beginner English readers who need a Chinese translation or detailed annotations

Reading tips

Read the whole book first to grasp the story's arc, then go back to savor the satirical details in the dialogue between the angel and the villagers.
While reading, note how social customs and religious beliefs are thrown into relief by the outsider's perspective, and jot down interesting passages as you go.
If using it for English study, excerpt several new words and sentence patterns from each chapter and understand their usage in context.
After finishing, compare it with Wells's other works to see how his approach differs between fantasy and science fiction.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this a science fiction novel by Wells?

No. It is closer to a social novel with fantasy and satire, telling of an angel's experiences after straying into the English countryside; its focus is on examining social customs and human nature through an outsider's eyes, not on depicting technology or a future world.

How difficult is the English, and what level is it suitable for?

The work was written in the late nineteenth century, and its language carries the literary style of the time; sentences are long but not overly obscure. Readers with roughly CET-4-level reading ability who are willing to look up words can attempt it; beginners are advised to read with a dictionary or a translation alongside.

Where can I get the electronic edition, and is it free?

The book is published by Project Gutenberg as a public-domain eBook and can be downloaded and read free on its website; no payment is required. For available formats, refer to what the platform provides.

Is it long? How long does it take to finish?

It is a short novel. At about half an hour of reading a day, it can usually be finished in a few days; it suits segmented reading and also works as a short English text to complete in concentrated sessions.

Comments

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About the author

Wells, H. G. (Herbert George), 1866-1946 Author

H. G. Wells (Herbert George, 1866–1946) was a renowned British author best known for his science fiction and socially engaged works. The collection holds 76 of his works, including The Invisible Man, The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds, The Red Room, and The Door in the Wall, and Other Stories, as well as the historical survey The Outline of History. His science fiction often starts from scientific premises and explores technological loss of control, human weakness, and social crisis, with bold imagination and clear narration; The Outline of History reflects his approachable, well-structured writing for general readers. Public information is limited, so biographical details are not elaborated here, but his works show a mastery of novels, short stories, and popular history, and his influence on later science fiction is profound.