GramediaJember-ENGLISH CLASSICS: TALES OF SPACE AND TIME

There was, until a year ago, a little and very grimy looking shop near Seven Dials, over which, in weather-worn yellow lettering, the name of ”C. Cave, Naturalist and Dealer in Antiquities,” was inscribed. The contents of its window were curiously variegated. They comprised some elephant tusks and an imperfect set of chessmen, beads and weapons, a box of eyes, two skulls of tigers and one human, several moth-eaten stuffed monkeys (one holding a lamp), an old-fashioned cabinet, a flyblown ostrich egg or so, some fishing-tackle, and an extraordinarily dirty, empty glass fish-tank. There was also, at the moment the story begins, a mass of crystal, worked into the shape of an egg and brilliantly polished. And at that two people, who stood outside the window, were looking, one of them a tall, thin clergyman, the other a black-bearded young man of dusky complexion and unobtrusive costume. The dusky young man spoke with eager gesticulation, and seemed anxious for his companion to purchase the article.
About Author:
Wells began his writing career by publishing articles in various magazines. His first novel, "The Time Machine," was published in 1895 and immediately became a huge success. This novel was followed by other science fiction works that also gained popularity, such as "The Island of Doctor Moreau" (1896), "The Invisible Man" (1897), and "The War of the Worlds" (1898).
Besides science fiction, Wells also wrote realist novels such as "Kipps" (1905) and "The History of Mr. Polly" (1910). He was also active in social and political activities, and wrote many essays and nonfiction books on various topics, including history, sociology, and politics.