Basically the story of a Victorian-era scientist who regales his regular dinner companions with a story of his recent adventure, a trip through time.

As James Gleick pointed out in [b:Time Travel: A History|28587950|Time Travel A History|James Gleick|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1460910277s/28587950.jpg|48754828], this is basically the first time time this type of story was written - hard to believe now that it is so commonplace. The science (or biology or anthropology) is unlikely, perhaps more a metaphor for society. "Don't become sheep, or you will be eaten up."

I was glad to share this book (first read in my teens) with my teen daughter, and we agreed that this is 4 stars.