35 pages 1 hour read

H. G. Wells

The Invisible Man

Fiction | Novella | Adult | Published in 1897

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Chapters 16-20Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 16 Summary: “In the ‘Jolly Cricketers’”

Marvel reaches the bottom of the hill and begs to enter a pub called The Jolly Cricketers, hoping to lock himself inside a room as shelter from the Invisible Man’s murderous pursuit. The barkeep and patrons try to hide Marvel and lock all the doors, but they can’t get the last door locked in time. A police officer and the barkeep try to capture the Invisible Man, but he eludes their grasp and delivers several surprise blows. A revolver triggers and shoots a mirror, giving the Invisible Man time to escape into the yard. Once outside, he throws a rock at one of the men, who retaliates with bullet fire across the horizon. The patrons get a lantern and search for what they assume will be an injured or dead invisible body.

Chapter 17 Summary: “Dr. Kemp’s Visitor”

Kemp hears gunshots at the bottom of the hill. He sees a crowd gathered and wonders, “What are the asses at now?” (70). He ignores the noise and continues working until 2 a.m. When he prepares for bed, he notices a pool of blood on the floor—then on his bedroom doorhandle, and on his bedsheets. He then sees a bloody bandage, seemingly suspended in midair. The Invisible Man has snuck into Kemp’s house to dress his wound, but he is astonished to see Kemp because the two of them were once schoolmates.