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H. G. Wells

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Herbert George Wells was a prolific English writer and a visionary social critic.

H. G. Wells, c.1890
H. G. Wells, c.1890

He authored more than forty novels and dozens of short stories. His work spanned many genres, including science fiction, social realism, and non-fiction. Wells is frequently called the "father of science fiction." This title is shared with writers like Jules Verne and Hugo Gernsback. He was also known as a futurist and a prophetic thinker. He used his writing to promote a progressive vision for the entire world.

Wells developed a unique literary method known as "Wells's law." This technique involves combining a single extraordinary assumption with commonplace, realistic details. By adding these everyday elements, he made his fantastic stories feel convincing.

The writer Joseph Conrad even called him a "Realist of the Fantastic!" This approach allowed him to explore complex themes through believable settings. His ability to blend the strange with the familiar helped define the science fiction genre.

His science fiction works introduced many concepts that were not yet common. He wrote about time travel, invisibility, and biological engineering. He also imagined alien invasions and the existence of tanks and aircraft.

H. G. Wells-TIME-1926
H. G. Wells-TIME-1926

Wells even foresaw technologies like satellite television and the World Wide Web. His most famous early novels include *The Time Machine* (1895) and *The Invisible Man* (1897). *The War of the Worlds*, published in 1898, remains one of his most notable achievements. He also wrote *The Island of Doctor Moreau* in 1896.

Beyond science fiction, Wells wrote novels of social realism. These books, such as *Kipps* (1905) and *The History of Mr Polly* (1910), described lower-middle-class English life. Some critics suggested he was a worthy successor to Charles Dickens because of this skill. In his book *Tono-Bungay* (1909), he attempted to provide a diagnosis of English society. He used his literary talents to examine the distribution of wealth. This allowed him to critique the social structures of his time.

Wells's early life was marked by both hardship and intense study.

Uppark-Sfront-01
Uppark-Sfront-01

He was born in Bromley, Kent, in 1866 to Joseph Wells and Sarah Neal. In 1874, an accident left him bedridden with a broken leg. To pass the time, he read extensively from his local library. This period of convalescence stimulated his desire to write. He later endured a difficult apprenticeship as a draper in Southsea. He worked thirteen-hour days and lived in a dormitory. These experiences later inspired several of his social novels.

His academic background deeply influenced his scientific and ethical thinking.

Wells won a scholarship to the Normal School of Science in London. There, he studied biology under the famous scientist Thomas Henry Huxley. He eventually earned a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from the University of London in 1890. His scientific training shaped his views on many complex subjects. For much of his adult life, he was an advocate of eugenics and involuntary euthanasia. He argued these were necessary for socialism, though he largely recanted these views by 1940.

Wells was a man of strong political and social convictions. He was an outspoken socialist from a young age. He also expressed pacifist views, though his stance shifted during the First World War.

Herbert George Wells in 1943
Herbert George Wells in 1943

In his later years, he focused more on journalism and political commentary. He also showed great compassion for health-related issues. As a diabetic himself, he co-founded The Diabetic Association in 1934. This charity is known today as Diabetes UK. His life was a constant effort to connect scientific progress with social improvement.

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🖼️ Images & Media (21)
File:Young Bertie (H. G. Wells).jpg
Young Bertie (H. G. Wells).jpg
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Uppark-Sfront-01.jpg
File:HG Wells 20181021 120408.jpg
HG Wells 20181021 120408.jpg
File:H. G. Wells, c.1890.jpg
H. G. Wells, c.1890.jpg
File:MayburyRoad h.g.wells house.jpg
MayburyRoad h.g.wells house.jpg
File:The Works of H G Wells Volume 4 (page 10 crop).jpg
The Works of H G Wells Volume 4 (page 10 crop).jpg
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Woking tripod.JPG
File:H G Wells crater 5163 med.jpg
H G Wells crater 5163 med.jpg
File:H. G. Wells Daily Mirror.jpg
H. G. Wells Daily Mirror.jpg
File:H. G. Wells-TIME-1926.jpg
H. G. Wells-TIME-1926.jpg
File:H. G. Wells (5026568202).jpg
H. G. Wells (5026568202).jpg
The War That Will End War - Wells.djvu

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