H. G. Wells, The Island of Doctor Moreau

Simon John James (University of Durham)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.08: English Writing and Culture of the early Twentieth Century , 1900-1945.
Vol. editors: Chris Baldick (Goldsmiths College, University of London), Peter Childs (Newman University), Louise McDonald (Newman University)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1896

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Novel
Romance
Science Fiction

Resources

The Island of Doctor Moreau is a fin-de-siècle scientific romance, presciently concerned with issues of vivisection, biological modification and scientific responsibility.

The story is mostly narrated in the first person by its central character, Edward Prendick, an independently wealthy man who has studied natural history under T. H. Huxley (the late-Victorian biologist nicknamed “Darwin's bulldog” for his public advocacy of Darwin's theory of evolution). In the earliest and the most recent editions of the novel, Prendick's narrative is prefaced by his nephew who explains that the manuscript was found among his uncle's papers after his death. Until he died, Prendick claimed to have no memory of the …

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1532 words

Citation: James, Simon John. "The Island of Doctor Moreau". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 22 February 2008 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=485, accessed 24 November 2024.]

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