Overview
About this book
An unnamed narrator watches familiar English landscapes become the scene of an overwhelming Martian invasion. Wells keeps the speculative premise grounded in movement, panic and observation.
- First published
- 1898
- Language
- English
- Copyright status
- Public domain
- Source edition
- Project Gutenberg ebook #36
English level
B1–B2 · Steady progress
The War of the Worlds is calibrated from 39,485 sampled words across 27 chapters: sentences average 18.7 words, 27.7% exceed 24 words and 6.2% of words are nine letters or longer.
Explore the B1–B2 level →Sentence rhythm
What the prose asks
Medium-length sentences averaging 18.7 words, with 27.7% extending beyond 24 words
Vocabulary
What may slow you down
6.2% of sampled words contain nine or more letters; names and period vocabulary still vary by chapter
Reading rhythm
Medium commitment
Regular chapter-sized stopping points support a steady plan. About 11 calm 30-minute sessions.
Suggested approach
Read with momentum
Use chapter or section breaks to keep context while reading steadily
Best starting point
Begin with chapter one
The full text is ready with speech, lookup and saved progress.
CEFR-aligned Linden estimate · high confidence · sampled full text · Calibrated 2026-09-08 · Provisional, not an exam certification.
Table of contents
27 chapters
- 01I. THE EVE OF THE WAR.10 min
- 02II. THE FALLING STAR.6 min
- 03III. ON HORSELL COMMON.5 min
- 04IV. THE CYLINDER OPENS.5 min
- 05V. THE HEAT-RAY.7 min
- 06VI. THE HEAT-RAY IN THE CHOBHAM ROAD.4 min
- 07VII. HOW I REACHED HOME.6 min
- 08VIII. FRIDAY NIGHT.4 min
- 09IX. THE FIGHTING BEGINS.10 min
- 10X. IN THE STORM.10 min
- 11XI. AT THE WINDOW.9 min
- 12XII. WHAT I SAW OF THE DESTRUCTION OF WEYBRIDGE AND SHEPPERTON.17 min
- 13XIII. HOW I FELL IN WITH THE CURATE.8 min
- 14XIV. IN LONDON.17 min
- 15XV. WHAT HAD HAPPENED IN SURREY.13 min
- 16XVI. THE EXODUS FROM LONDON.20 min
- 17XVII. THE “THUNDER CHILD”.15 min
- 18I. UNDER FOOT.12 min
- 19II. WHAT WE SAW FROM THE RUINED HOUSE.15 min
- 20III. THE DAYS OF IMPRISONMENT.9 min
- 21IV. THE DEATH OF THE CURATE.7 min
- 22V. THE STILLNESS.4 min
- 23VI. THE WORK OF FIFTEEN DAYS.6 min
- 24VII. THE MAN ON PUTNEY HILL.25 min
- 25VIII. DEAD LONDON.14 min
- 26IX. WRECKAGE.8 min
- 27X. THE EPILOGUE.6 min
Related reading paths
Read it in sequence
Related author
H. G. Wells
An English writer who used concise speculative premises to examine class, empire, technology and evolutionary time.
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