The War of the Worlds
Published on 29. January 2026
Book
Hardback
192 pages
978-1-5299-7800-1 (ISBN)
Description
A beautiful deluxe gift edition of the sci-fi classic, the original alien invasion story, with foiled covers, marbled endpapers, sprayed edges, beautiful paper and finished with a silk ribbon.
This is the ultimate story of alien invasion. When a gigantic, mysterious cylinder lands in Woking, England, people gather in crowds curious to see what is happening. But then the aliens emerge, to begin their total conquest of planet Earth. Evolutionarily superior and armed with powerful technology, they begin their programme of human extermination, making their remorseless way towards the capital. Society is disintegrating and humanity faces obliteration, but one man, the narrator of this story, sets out across the desolate wasteland to find his wife.
This hardback is part of VINTAGE COLLECTOR'S CLASSICS, a series of luxurious books especially crafted for collectors and fans of beautiful special editions. Sumptuous design meets the highest quality production. Discover timeless classics beautifully bound for every bookshelf.
This is the ultimate story of alien invasion. When a gigantic, mysterious cylinder lands in Woking, England, people gather in crowds curious to see what is happening. But then the aliens emerge, to begin their total conquest of planet Earth. Evolutionarily superior and armed with powerful technology, they begin their programme of human extermination, making their remorseless way towards the capital. Society is disintegrating and humanity faces obliteration, but one man, the narrator of this story, sets out across the desolate wasteland to find his wife.
This hardback is part of VINTAGE COLLECTOR'S CLASSICS, a series of luxurious books especially crafted for collectors and fans of beautiful special editions. Sumptuous design meets the highest quality production. Discover timeless classics beautifully bound for every bookshelf.
Reviews / Votes
Variously interpreted as a commentary on evolutionary theory, British imperialism and Victorian fears and prejudices, War of the Worlds tells the nail-biting tale of one man's struggle to track down his wife during an alien invasion. Included are some of the most vivid scenes of London in literature-IndependentSharply satirises the human refusal to look beyond men's petty concerns...wonderfully suggestive-Daily Telegraph
The cosily familiar settings emphasise the horror of the invasion...spookily prescient of the World Wars. Science fiction often dates badly; not so here: hard to believe this was written in 1898-Observer
An astonishing mind and a visionary imagination-Daily Mail
The classic tale of alien invasion, and still the best-The Times
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Vintage Publishing
Dimensions
Height: 203 mm
Width: 136 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
276 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5299-7800-1 (9781529978001)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
H.G. Wells was born in Bromley, Kent, in 1866. After an education repeatedly interrupted by his family's financial problems, he eventually found work as a teacher at a succession of schools, where he began to write his first stories.
Wells became a prolific writer with a diverse output, of which the famous works are his science fiction novels. These are some of the earliest and most influential examples of the genre, and include classics such as The Time Machine and The War of the Worlds. Most of his books very well-received, and had a huge influence on many younger writers, including George Orwell and Isaac Asimov. Wells also wrote many popular non-fiction books, and used his writing to support the wide range of political and social causes in which he had an interest, although these became increasingly eccentric towards the end of his life.
Twice-married, Wells had many affairs, including a ten-year liaison with Rebecca West that produced a son. He died in London in 1946.
Wells became a prolific writer with a diverse output, of which the famous works are his science fiction novels. These are some of the earliest and most influential examples of the genre, and include classics such as The Time Machine and The War of the Worlds. Most of his books very well-received, and had a huge influence on many younger writers, including George Orwell and Isaac Asimov. Wells also wrote many popular non-fiction books, and used his writing to support the wide range of political and social causes in which he had an interest, although these became increasingly eccentric towards the end of his life.
Twice-married, Wells had many affairs, including a ten-year liaison with Rebecca West that produced a son. He died in London in 1946.