The Island of Doctor Moreau: A Critical Text of the 1896 London First Edition, with an Introduction and Appendices (Annotated H.G. Wells) [Library Binding]

H. G. Wells (Author), Leon Stover (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0786401230 | ISBN-13: 978-0786401239 | Publication Date: April 1996

H.G. Wells (1866–1946) wrote some of the great classics of speculative fiction in English, including The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896), which might be said to be about unholy genetics. The work’s biological and sociopolitical ideas are still current (such were the range and depth of Wells’ ideas).

Wells continued to work on Doctor Moreau for nearly thirty years after its initial publication in London (the New York first edition added a subtitle A Possibility), finally letting go of the work after the publication of the Atlantic Edition in 1924. Annotated by the premier Wellsian scholar, this is an exhaustive critical edition, examining the historical, medical, philosophical and literary contexts of the story.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Two of Wells's sf masterpieces get the red carpet treatment here. These "critical text" editions contain the full text plus annotations, indexes, appendixes, and bibliographies. Though these editions are pricey, Wells's works deserve serious consideration. Libraries should at least stock up on a few extra budget paperback copies of Doctor Moreau to meet demand generated by a forthcoming film remake starring Marlon Brando and Val Kilmer.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Recommended...fascinating" -- Choice

"Thorough job" -- Interzone

"Valuable...one of Wells’ more important books" -- H.G. Wells Society

"serious students of Wells would be foolish to ignore 'Stoverism'" -- The Wellsian 1996

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Library Binding: 301 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company (April 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786401230
• ISBN-13: 978-0786401239
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,418,314 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent annotated series of hg wells' SF works, February 2, 2009

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This review is from: The Island of Doctor Moreau: A Critical Text of the 1896 London First Edition, with an Introduction and Appendices (Annotated H.G. Wells) (Library Binding)

This is an excellent critical edition of the initial edition of the Island of Dr Moreau by Leon Stover. Most reprints of this and other of Wells' SF novels typically use later revisions. Stover argues effectively for the greater artistic merit of the initial editions. It is part of a series of extensively annotated editions of Wells' science fiction. The editor also has a lengthy introduction which discusses the context and ideas permeating each novel. Stover makes good use of previous studies while also providing his own illuminating analyses. What I like is that Stover keeps close to what Wells wrote and said in his various books and recorded conversations rather than spinning some personal take on the novel. Please do not confuse this with a typical reprint of Moreau or any of his other sf novels. It is much more. Serious readers of HG Wells should get the series.