On September 21, 1866, pioneering science fiction author Herbert
George “H.G.” Wells was born in Bromley, England. Wells received a scholarship
to the Normal School of Science in London. After which he worked as a draper's
apprentice and bookkeeper before becoming a freelance writer. His unique writing
style and scientific topics quickly brought him success as a writer. In 1895,
he published The Time Machine, about a man who journeys to the future.
The book was a success, as were his subsequent books The Invisible Man
(1897) and The War of the Worlds (1898). Passionately concerned about
the fate of humanity, Wells joined the socialist Fabian Society but quit after
a quarrel with George Bernard Shaw, another prominent member. He was involved
romantically for several years with Dorothy Richardson, pioneer of stream-of-consciousness
writing. In 1912, the 19-year-old writer Rebecca West reviewed his book Marriage,
calling him "The Old Maid among novelists." He asked to meet her, and
the two soon embarked on an affair that lasted 10 years and produced one son,
Anthony. H.G. Wells died on August 13, 1946 at his London home from undisclosed
causes. He stated that he wanted his epitaph to read: "I told you so. You damned fools."
He was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium and his ashes were scattered at
sea.
Michael Thomas Barry is the author of Literary Legends of the British Isles. The book can be purchased
through the following links:
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