The Island of Dr. Moreau (Dover Thrift Editions) [Paperback]

H. G. Wells (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0486290271 | ISBN-13: 978-0486290270 | Publication Date: January 12, 1996

Enormously inventive tale about a mad surgeon-turned-vivisectionist on a remote island who performs ghoulish experiments that transform animals into men. It is one of Wells' earliest and most sinister personifications of the scientific quest to control and manipulate the natural world, and, ultimately, human nature itself.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The Island of Dr. Moreau takes us into an abyss of human nature. This book is a superb piece of storytelling.”
—V. S. Pritchett


From the Trade Paperback edition. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

Founded in 1906 by J.M. Dent, the Everyman Library has always tried to make the best books ever written available to the greatest number of people at the lowest possible price. Unique editorial features that help Everyman Paperback Classics stand out from the crowd include: a leading scholar or literary critic's introduction to the text, a biography of the author, a chronology of her or his life and times, a historical selection of criticism, and a concise plot summary. All books published since 1993 have also been completely restyled: all type has been reset, to offer a clarity and ease of reading unique among editions of the classics; a vibrant, full-color cover design now complements these great texts with beautiful contemporary works of art. But the best feature must be Everyman's uniquely low price. Each Everyman title offers these extensive materials at a price that competes with the most inexpensive editions on the market-but Everyman Paperbacks have durable binding, quality paper, and the highest editorial and scholarly standards. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 11 and up
  
• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (January 12, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486290271
• ISBN-13: 978-0486290270
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (104 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #81,243 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Authors, A-Z > ( W ) > Wells, H.G.
  • #87 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Teens > Literature & Fiction > Classics

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

104 of 111 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps Wells' Finest Novel, February 5, 2004

By 

Gary F. Taylor "GFT" (Biloxi, MS USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Island of Dr. Moreau (Classic) (Paperback)

Although it is less often read than such Wells novels as THE WAR OF THE WORLDS, the basic story of THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU is very well known through several extremely loose film adaptations. Pendrick, a British scientist, is shipwrecked--and by chance finds himself on an isolated island where Dr. Moreau and his assistant Montgomery are engaged in a series of experiments. They are attempting to transform animals into manlike beings.

Wells, a social reformer, was a very didactic writer, and his novels reflect his thoughts and theories about humanity. Much of Wells writing concerns (either directly or covertly) social class, but while this exists in MOREAU it is less the basic theme than an undercurrent. At core, the novel concerns the then-newly advanced theory of natural selection--and then works to relate how that theory impacts man's concept of God. Wells often touched upon this, and in several novels he broaches the thought that if mankind evolved "up" it might just as easily evolve "down," but nowhere in his work is this line of thought more clearly and specifically seen than here.

At times Wells' determination to teach his reader can overwhelm; at times it can become so subtle that it is nothing short of absolutely obscure. But in THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU, Wells achieves a perfect balance of the two extremes, even going so far as to balance the characters in such a way that not even the narrator emerges as entirely sympathetic. It is a remarkable achievement, and in this sense I consider MOREAU possibly the best of Wells work: the novel is as interesting for the story it tells as it is for still very relevant themes it considers.

It is also something of an oddity among Wells work, for while Wells often included elements of horror and savagery in his novels, MOREAU is not so much horrific as it is disturbingly gruesome and occasionally deliberately distasteful. This is not really a book than you can read and then put away: it lingers in your mind in a most unsettling way. Strongly recommended.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Once again, do NOT WATCH THE MOVIE FIRST!!, April 30, 2001

By 

Michael Legg (Rolling Meadows, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Island of Dr. Moreau (Dover Thrift Editions) (Paperback)

This book is less known than Wells' other works like The War of the Worlds and The Time Machine, but in many ways it exceeds these other, more popular works. This novel is a story essentially about the nature of humanity. What is it that makes us people? What, exactly, separates man from the beasts? Wells' insidious Dr. Moreau is the perfect character to explore these questions as he has no conscience. As you read this book you find yourself identifying more with the "beasts" than with the Dr. or his assistant; and you find yourself wondering whether or not the noble beasts are in fact more human than the human characters. This work is decades before its' time; as today genetic research and animal rights are garnering more attention and headlines. I believe Wells was somehow able to see these issues decades ago when he wrote this story; and it remains one of the most salient writings on the topic to date. I heartily endorse this book for any fan of science fiction. Enjoy!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yesterday's horror meets today's science lab, March 22, 2010

By 

CB (Kentucky) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Island of Doctor Moreau (Kindle Edition)

I got this on Kindle simply because it looked interesting and was $0.00. Once I began to preview the book to determine whether or not I was going to keep in on my Kindle or delete it...I couldn't put it down! The language is somewhat dated however, it adds to the story line and keeps the events back in the time they should be rather than allowing them to creep into today's timeframe. It is so interesting to read something that was written that long ago and let your imagination decide how it may pertain to today's life in the form of genetic, hybrid and biological engineering. The fictional events on The Island of Dr. Moreau seem as though they could be going on in the local university biology research lab and hidden from the public eye. Typically I'm not into science fiction reads but this may be a turning point for me. I enjoyed this book a great deal and have recommended it to several friends to read. Enjoy!