Herbert Herbert George Wells

Herbert George Wells was born in Bromley, Kent in 1866 to a working class family. His father worked as agardener shopkeeper and cricketer his mother as a maid and houskeeper. His carrer as an author was fostered by an unfortunate accident as a child. He broke his leg and spent the mandatory rest period reading every book which he could find. Wells was awarded a scholarchip and furthered his education at the Normal School

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of science. It was the Normal School that Wells came under the wing of the famous biologist Thomas H. Huxley. Wells‘ „science fiction“ was clearly influenced by his studies at the Normal School and his interest in biology. He worked in poverty in London at a crammer while experimenting in journalism and stories, and published textbooks on biology and physiography.

H.G. Wells gained fame with his first major fiction work: The Time Machine in 1895. Soon after the publication of this book, Wells followed with The Island of Dr. Moreau (1895), The Invisible Man, and perhaps his most popular work: The War of the Worlds published in 1898.

Over the years Wells became concerbed with the fate of human society in a world where technology and scientific study were advancing at a rapid pace. For a period he was a member of The Fabian Society, a group of social philosophers in London. Well’s later works became less science fiction and more social critic. He envisioned a utopia in which the vast and frightening material forces available to modern men and woman would be rationally controlled for progress and for the equal good of all. His later works were increasingly pessimistic. He had dobts about the ability of humankind to survive. Especially  the Second World War and the cataclysm of Hiroshima confirmed the pessimism (which had throughout accompanied his exuberant hopes and visions.)

His live is covered with affairs that bring out several children and even have an influence to some of his books.

H.G. Wells is considered by some to be the father of modern science fiction.

He died in London, 13, August 1946.

Well’s most important works arranged in chronological order

·        The Time Machine (1895)

·        The Invisible Man (1897)

·        The War of the Worlds (1898)

·        Kipps (1905)

·         Tono-Bungay (1909)

·        Ann Veronica (1909)

·        The History of Mr. Polly (1910)

·        Mr. Britling Sees It Through (1916)

·        The Outline of History (2 Volumes, 1920)

·        The Shape of things to Come (1933)

·        Mind at the End of Ist Tether (1945)