The story in one page
When a heavily bandaged stranger arrives at the Coach and Horses inn during a snowstorm, the locals assume he is a reclusive accident victim. In reality, he is Griffin, a chemist who has successfully rendered himself invisible but remains dangerously stranded in that state. Unable to pay his bills and losing his grip on social norms, Griffin resorts to theft and violence to protect his secret. As he moves from the rural isolation of Iping to the coastal town of Port Burdock, his ambition curdles into a plan for a violent 'Reign of Terror,' forcing his former colleague Dr. Kemp to lead a desperate manhunt.
Who's who
- Griffin
An irritable, brilliant chemist who becomes invisible and increasingly violent.
- Mrs. Hall
The no-nonsense landlady of the Coach and Horses inn in Iping.
- Thomas Marvel
A homeless man Griffin recruits as an unwilling assistant and bag-carrier.
- Dr. Kemp
A former acquaintance of Griffin who eventually leads the pursuit against him.
- Mr. Cuss
A local doctor whose curiosity leads to a terrifying encounter with the stranger.
What it's really about
- Isolation
- Total invisibility leads to absolute social and moral detachment.
- Unchecked Ambition
- Scientific breakthrough without ethical foresight results in self-destruction.
Why it's memorable
- A man unwrapping his bandages to reveal a completely empty hat and collar.
- The frantic struggle in a kitchen where invisible hands grapple with a panicked policeman.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
After Griffin is beaten to death by a mob, his body slowly materializes in the street. Thomas Marvel, having stolen Griffin's research journals, secretly keeps them in a locked cupboard, dreaming of the power they contain but unable to decipher the complex formulas.
For your book club
- Is Griffin a victim of his own genius or was he always inherently sociopathic?
- How does the physical reality of invisibility — being cold and needing clothes — undermine the fantasy of power?