War with the Newts by Karel Capek

The human world is stunned to discover that there is another intelligent species on the planet - a race of sophisticated, bipedal amphibious reptiles, ripe for exploitation by mankind. These creatures can use tools, fashion products and do the workno real person would wish to do. And fight.

And perhaps even turn on those who had taken them for granted for so long. Written in 1936, WAR WITH THE NEWTS is a darkly humorous commentary on the cruelty and venality of man, the folly of exploitation, and the seeds of conflict. As Europe moved ever closer to the Second World War, the allegory within WAR WITH THE NEWTS was proved savagely right.