First published in 1897, H.G. Wells's alien invasion narrative The War of the Worlds was a landmark work of science fiction and one that continues to be adapted and referenced in the 21st century.

Chronicling the novel's contexts, its origins and its many multi-media adaptations, this book is a complete biography of the life – and the afterlives – of The War of the Worlds. Exploring the original text's compelling sense of place and vivid recreation of Wells's Woking home and the concerns of fin-de-siécle Britain, the book goes on to chart the novel's immediate international impact. Starting with the initial serialisations in US newspapers, Peter Beck goes on to examine Orson Welles's legendary 1938 radio adaptation, TV and film adaptations from George Pal to Steven Spielberg, Jeff Wayne's rock opera and the numerous other works that have taken their inspiration from Wells's original. Drawing on new archival research, this is a comprehensive account of the continuing impact of The War of the Worlds.

Part I: Introduction
1. H.G. Wells's The War of the Worlds: An Enduring Present-day Story
2. Wells's Sense of Time and Place
3. Contextualising The War of the Worlds
Part II: Wells in Woking – Writing The War of the Worlds
4. Struggling for Literary Recognition
5. Wells's 'Literary Factory' in Woking
6. Writing The War of the Worlds
7. The War of the Worlds: An Analysis
8. Leaving Woking for Worcester Park
Part III: Taking The War of the Worlds to the World – Multimedia Adaptations
9. The Endless Retelling of Well's Story Around the World
10. The War of the Worlds in the USA, 1897-1898: Serialisation in Boston and New York
11. Wells's Martians Invade the USA: Orson Welles' 1938 War of the Worlds Broadcast
12. Wells' Martians Invade the USA and Europe After 1938: The Power of Radio
13. The War of the Worlds in Film and Television: 1953-2005
14. The War of the Worlds in Music: Jeff Wayne's Rock Opera
Part IV: The War of the Worlds Today
15. The War of the Worlds' Literary Heritage
Part V: Conclusion
16. Conclusion: H.G. Wells as 'The Man From Woking'

Glossary of Place Names
Bibliography
Index