The Wonderful Visit by H.G. Wells

The narrative follows an extraordinary event in a small English village, where a mysterious golden glare appears on Sidderford Moor, coinciding with the arrival of a strange bird. The story begins with various villagers witnessing the glare, but only a few, including Annie Durgan, hear a haunting melody associated with it. Sandy Bright, a local man, encounters the strange bird, which he perceives as a large, black creature, and is so frightened that he abandons his bacon and runs away. The bird is later described by a solicitor's clerk and a ploughman, who note its unusual colors and size. The Vicar of Siddermorton, an ornithologist, becomes intrigued and sets out to find the bird, armed with a gun. However, instead of a bird, he accidentally shoots an angelic figure with iridescent wings, who falls to the ground in pain. The Vicar, shocked and remorseful, tends to the angel's wounds, leading to a conversation about their respective worlds. The angel, who has fallen from his celestial realm, struggles to understand human emotions, pain, and the complexities of life on Earth. He learns about hunger, suffering, and the nature of humanity, while the Vicar grapples with the implications of having an angel in his home. The angel's presence begins to disrupt the village's social order, leading to gossip and suspicion among the townsfolk. As the angel attempts to adapt to human life, he faces ridicule and misunderstanding, particularly from the local children and adults who cannot comprehend his otherworldly nature. His innocence and naivety lead to a series of misunderstandings, culminating in a confrontation with Sir John Gotch, a local landowner, who feels threatened by the angel's influence and the disruption he brings. The climax occurs when the angel, in a moment of anger, lashes out at Gotch, believing he has killed him. This act of violence marks a turning point for the angel, who realizes the darker aspects of human nature and the pain that comes with it. Overwhelmed by guilt and confusion, he flees into the night, contemplating his place in a world filled with suffering. Ultimately, the angel's journey leads to tragedy, as he and a local girl named Delia perish in a fire at the Vicarage while trying to save each other. Their deaths serve as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the complexities of human emotions. The story concludes with the Vicar reflecting on the impact of the angel's visit, recognizing the beauty and pain intertwined in the human experience, and the lasting impression left by the angel's brief presence in their lives.

By H.G. Wells · First published 1895 · Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Satire · 53 chapters · 48,553 words

First lines

On the Night of the Strange Bird, many people at Sidderton (and some nearer) saw a Glare on the Sidderford moor. But no one in Sidderford saw it, for most of Sidderford was abed.

What this Textopian page supports

The Wonderful Visit is listed on Textopian as a novel by H.G. Wells, dated 1895 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Novel
• Author: H.G. Wells
• Date: 1895 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Satire, Adventure, Literary Fiction
• Length: 48,553 words
• Structure: 53 chapters, 1,143 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Wonderful Visit 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
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

• What should a reader notice first when entering The Wonderful Visit?
• How does this novel by H.G. Wells fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

• The Story Of The Inexperienced Ghost by H. G. Wells
• The Visitor by Hilaire Belloc
• The Food Of Death by Lord Dunsany
• A Moonlight Fable by H. G. Wells
• Needler by Randall Garrett
• Anything You Can Do by Randall Garrett

Genres

• Fantasy — The story involves fantastical elements, including a visit from a magical creature.
• Science Fiction — The narrative explores themes of otherworldly beings and their interactions with humans.
• Satire — The book critiques societal norms and human behavior through humor and irony.
• Adventure — The plot includes elements of adventure as characters navigate unexpected situations.

Tags

Fantasy · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Travelogue · Adventure · Mystery · Supernatural · Comedy · Literary Fiction · English Literature · 19th Century Literature

Contents

• The Night of the Strange Bird
• The Coming of the Strange Bird
• The Hunting of the Strange Bird
• The Hunting of the Strange Bird (Continued)
• The Hunting of the Strange Bird (Continued)
• The Vicar and the Angel
• The Vicar and the Angel (Continued)
• The Vicar and the Angel (Continued)
• Parenthesis on Angels
• At the Vicarage
• At the Vicarage (Continued)
• At the Vicarage (Continued)
• The Man of Science
• The Man of Science (Continued)
• The Curate
• The Curate (Continued)
• The Curate (Continued)
• After Dinner
• After Dinner (Continued)
• After Dinner (Continued)
• After Dinner (Continued)
• Morning
• The Violin
• The Angel Explores the Village
• The Angel Explores the Village (Continued)
• The Angel Explores the Village (Continued)
• The Angel Explores the Village (Continued)
• Lady Hammergallow's View
• Further Adventures of the Angel in the Village
• Further Adventures of the Angel in the Village (Continued)
• Mrs. Jehoram's Breadth of View
• A Trivial Incident
• The Warp and the Woof of Things
• The Angel's Debut
• The Angel's Debut (Continued)
• The Angel's Debut (Continued)
• The Angel's Debut (Continued)
• The Trouble of the Barbed Wire
• The Trouble of the Barbed Wire (Continued)
• Delia
• Doctor Crump Acts
• Sir John Gotch Acts
• The Sea Cliff
• Mrs. Hinijer Acts
• The Angel in Trouble
• The Angel in Trouble (Continued)
• The Last Day of the Visit
• The Last Day of the Visit (Continued)
• The Last Day of the Visit (Continued)
• The Last Day of the Visit (Continued)
• The Last Day of the Visit (Continued)
• The Last Day of the Visit (Continued)
• The Epilogue

More by H.G. Wells

• The Time Machine (1895)
• A Short History of the World (1922)
• The Invisible Man, A Grotesque Romance (1897)
• The War of the Worlds (1897)
• The Adventures of Tommy (1946)
• The Pearl of Love (1946)
• The Reign of Uya the Lion (1946)
• The Fight in the Lion's Thicket (1946)
• All works by H.G. Wells