The First Men in the Moon by H.G. Wells

The First Men in the Moon by H.G. Wells

A novel by the British author H.G. Wells, telling the story of a businessman, Mr Bedford, and a scientist, Mr Cavor, who go on a journey to the Moon. Once they get there, they discover a civilisation of insect-like creatures called “Selenites” (named after the Greek goddess of the Moon, Selene). It originally appeared as a serial in ‘The Strand Magazine’ between December 1900 to August 1901.

H.G. (Herbert George) Wells was born in Kent in 1866 and was a prolific writer in many different genres, until his death in 1946. He is now best remembered for his science fiction novels such as ‘The War of the Worlds’ and ‘The Time Machine.’ In fact, Wells is often referred to as one of the ‘fathers of science fiction’ along with Jules Verne and Hugo Gernsback.

The First Men in the Moon, along with books by Jules Verne, inspired film maker Georges Méliès to direct the first ever science fiction film, ‘A Trip to the Moon’, made in 1902.

The first page has a handwritten inscription by Wells which reads: "To E.S.P Haynes, This vision of a highly specialised society. H.G. Wells.". E.S.P (Edmund Sidney Pollock) Haynes was a British lawyer and writer who was well known in London's literary circles between 1900 to 1949.