The Invisible Man · Chapters

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Chapter companions for The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells.

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Chapter 1
The Strange Man's Arrival
A mysterious stranger arrives at the Coach and Horses inn in Iping during a snowstorm, heavily wrapped and carrying a small portmanteau. He demands a room and fire, paying generously. Mrs. Hall, the innkeeper, is puzzled by his refusal to remove his hat and coat, and later discovers his face is entirely bandaged except for his nose, with blue goggles hiding his eyes. He eats with a serviette over his mouth, speaks through a muffler, and seems sensitive about his appearance. He inquires about transporting luggage from Bramblehurst station, but rebuffs Mrs. Hall's attempts at conversation, especially about accidents and bandages. He remains in the parlour until evening, smoking and pacing, occasionally muttering to himself.
Chapter 2
Mr. Teddy Henfrey's First Impressions
Teddy Henfrey, the clock-jobber, arrives at the Coach and Horses to repair the parlour clock and encounters the bandaged stranger. The stranger's unsettling appearance and secretive manner disturb Henfrey, who later spreads suspicion about the guest to Mr. Hall. Mrs. Hall, though initially impressed by the stranger's claim of being an experimental investigator, grows uneasy, and Mr. Hall resolves to investigate further.
Chapter 3
The Thousand and One Bottles
The stranger's luggage arrives in Iping, consisting of trunks, books, and numerous crates filled with glass bottles and scientific equipment. After being bitten by Fearenside's dog, he rushes upstairs, and Hall glimpses a strange sight before being shoved out. The stranger obsessively unpacks his bottles and begins working, growing increasingly agitated and secretive. Fearenside later speculates that the stranger is piebald, having seen black skin through the torn clothing.
Chapter 4
Mr. Cuss Interviews the Stranger
Mr. Cuss, the village doctor, driven by curiosity, invents an excuse to interview the mysterious stranger at the inn. During the conversation, the stranger reveals a story about a burning prescription, and when he extends his arm to demonstrate, Cuss sees that the sleeve is empty. The stranger then pinches Cuss's nose with an invisible hand, sending the terrified doctor fleeing to the vicar, Mr. Bunting, to recount the bizarre encounter.
Chapter 5
The Burglary at the Vicarage
In the early hours of Whit Monday, Mrs. Bunting wakes to the sound of bare feet and wakes her husband, the Rev. Mr. Bunting. He investigates and hears someone fumbling at his study desk. Armed with a poker, he confronts the intruder, but the room appears empty despite clear signs of burglary—an open drawer, a lit candle, and missing gold coins. A sneeze in the passage and the slamming of the back door suggest the invisible presence has escaped, leaving the Buntings bewildered.

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The Strange Man's Arrival

Mr. Teddy Henfrey's First Impressions

The Thousand and One Bottles

Mr. Cuss Interviews the Stranger

The Burglary at the Vicarage