The Stolen Body by H.G. Wells (1898)
The novel revolves around a man who undergoes a mysterious transformation, resulting in his body being stolen and replaced with an identical duplicate. The protagonist struggles to maintain his identity and sense of self amidst the chaos that ensues.
By H.G. Wells · First published 1898 · Genre: Science Fiction, Horror, Fantasy · 7,227 words
First lines
Mr. Bessel was the senior partner in the firm of Bessel, Hart, and Brown, of St. Paul's Churchyard, and for many years he was well known among those interested in psychical research as a liberal-minded and conscientious investigator. He was an unmarried man, and instead of living in the suburbs, after the fashion of his class, he occupied rooms in the Albany, near Piccadilly. He was particularly interested in the questions of thought transference and of apparitions of the living, and in November, 1896, he commenced a series of experiments in conjunction with Mr. Vincey, of Staple Inn, in order to test the alleged possibility of projecting an apparition of one's self by force of will through space.
What this Textopian page supports
The Stolen Body is listed on Textopian as a short story by H.G. Wells, dated 1898 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: H.G. Wells
- Date: 1898 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Horror, Fantasy, Psychological Thriller, Mystery
- Length: 7,227 words
- Structure: 1 section, 65 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Stolen Body by H.G. Wells
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Stolen Body?
- How does this short story by H.G. Wells fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The story explores themes of thought transference and astral projection, which are common elements in science fiction.
- Horror — The narrative includes unsettling and eerie elements such as disembodied spirits and a malevolent possession, creating a sense of horror.
- Fantasy — The concept of a parallel world inhabited by spirits and the protagonist's out-of-body experience align with fantasy genre conventions.
- Psychological Thriller — The story delves into the psychological impact of the protagonist's experiences and the tension of his body's possession.
Tags
Science Fiction · Adventure · Fantasy · Mystery · Thriller · Steampunk · Alternate History · Time Travel · Body Snatching · Medical Thriller · Crime Fiction · Detective Story