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HG (Herbert George) Wells (1866-1946)
Who?
Hugely varied novelist and short story writer who became known for his socialist leaning and science fiction works. Born in Bromley, Kent, he also wrote of his own lower middle class world in the feminist novel, Ann Veronica (1909).
Must reads
The Time Machine (1895), The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896), The Invisible Man (1897), The War of the Worlds (1898), Love and Mr Lewisham (1900), Kipps (1905), The History of Mr Polly (1910), The First Men In the Moon (1901), Men Like Gods (1923) and The Shape of Things to Come (1933).
Darkest hour
Struggling as a teacher with bad health while trying to write before he became established.
Greatest triumph
Pioneering science fiction with The Time Machine.
Essential quotes
'Yet, across the gulf of space, minds that are to our minds as ours are to the beasts that perish, intellects vast and cool and unsympathetic, regarded this earth with envious eyes, and slowly and surely drew their plans against us.' (The War of the Worlds)
'Notice the smug suppressions of his face. In his mouth are lies in the shape of false teeth.' (Love and Mr Lewisham)
Gossip
He had an unhappy marriage to his cousin in 1891, eloped with and married one of his students in 1895 and had a son with writer Rebecca West.
Did u know?
Fiercely independent minded, he joined the Fabian Society but soon fell out with it, along with playwright George Bernard Shaw and leading socialists Sidney and Beatrice Webb.
What to say
His apocalyptic vision of the future has informed politics, fantasy films and science fiction ever since.
Don't say
Beam me up Scotty. Are Martians really green?
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