The Wonderful Visit by H. G. Wells

Description

Inspired by Victorian art critic John Ruskin's remark that an angel appearing on earth in Victorian England would be shot on sight, The Wonderful Visit begins with an angel descending from heaven and accidentally landing in a small English village. This angel, unlike the traditional biblical depiction, appears more like a beautiful and radiant human being with wings. The angel is discovered by the local vicar, Mr. Hilyer, who initially mistakes him for a rare bird and accidentally wounds him while trying to shoot him for his collection. Upon realizing his mistake, the vicar takes the angel into his home and tends to his wounds. The angel's presence causes quite a stir in the village, leading to a mix of awe, curiosity, and suspicion among the villagers. The angel, unfamiliar with the ways of humans, finds himself bewildered and dismayed by the mundane and often petty concerns of the people around him. Throughout the novel, Wells uses the angel's interactions with the villagers to satirize and critique various aspects of human society, including its hypocrisy, narrow-mindedness, and lack of imagination. The angel, embodying purity and otherworldliness, contrasts sharply with the villagers' often flawed and self-serving behavior.

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