HG Wells Biography

Herbert George Wells was an English science fiction writer best known for his visions of the future. He was also noted for his ability to write in a variety of genres, having written multiple novels, biographies, short stories, and autobiographies. He was an enthusiastic reader from a young age, reading novels by Washington Irving, Charles Dickens, Jonathan Swift, Voltaire, and many other Enlightenment writers. They had an impact on his work in one way or another. He spent a lot of time writing in college, and one of his short stories on time travel, titled "The Chronic Argonauts," was published in a journal, showing his potential as a writer. With the release of his work 'The Time Machine,' he became a literary star as a futurist. He also created social satires, essays, articles, and non-fiction volumes in addition to fiction. For many years, he also worked as a book reviewer and supported the careers of other authors such as James Joyce and Joseph Conrad. He openly supported pacifist beliefs as an outspoken socialist, and most of his later writings were political and educational in nature. Wells was also a talented artist who frequently illustrated the endpapers and title pages of his own books. He is renowned as a futurist and a remarkable author even after seven decades have passed since his death. In this article let’s discuss Herbert George Wells Biography. 

(image will be uploaded soon)

Who was H.G. Wells?

Herbert George Wells, better known as H.G. Wells, was a prolific English fiction and non-fiction author who lived from September 21, 1866, to August 13, 1946. However, Wells is better known for his famous science fiction novels and precognitive predictions about the future.

Early Life of H.G. Wells

H.G. Wells was born in Bromley, England, on September 21, 1866. Joseph Wells and Sarah Neal, his parents, served as domestic servants before purchasing a hardware business with a small inheritance. Wells had three older siblings and was known as Bertie by his family. For many years, the family lived in poverty because the store produced only a poor income due to its bad locality & inferior merchandise.

After a car accident left Wells bedridden at the age of 7, he became a voracious reader of everything from Charles Dickens to Washington Irving. His mother went to work as a housekeeper at a huge estate after the family store failed. There, Wells was able to widen his literary horizons by reading authors like Voltaire. Wells earned a scholarship to the Normal School of Science at the age of 18, where he studied biology. He went to London University after that. Wells went on to teach science after graduating in 1888. In 1893, he published his first book, "Textbook of Biology."

H.G. Wells as Teacher

Wells' employer terminated him in 1883, alleging that he was inefficient. According to reports, the young man was not satisfied with the way his apprenticeship ended. He became an assistant teacher at Midhurst Grammar School in West Sussex later that year until he obtained a scholarship to the Normal School of Science in London, where he studied biology under T. H. Huxley. He eventually became the first president of the Royal College of Science Association, which he helped to form as an alumnus. Wells attended his new school until 1887, receiving a weekly stipend of 21 shillings, thanks to his scholarship.

He quickly joined the school's Debating Society. These are the years when he first became interested in the idea of societal reform. He began his study of the subject by studying Plato's Republic but soon moved on to contemporary ideas of socialism as represented by the newly formed Fabian Society for Socialist Causes and free lectures were given at William Morris's residence, Kelmscott House. He was also one of the creators of The Science School Journal, a school publication that gave him the opportunity to voice his thoughts on literature and society. His studies came to an end in the school year 1886-1887.

Personal Life

Wells married his cousin, Isabel Mary Wells, in 1891, but divorced her in 1894 to marry Amy Catherine Robbins, a former student. In 1895, the couple tied the knot. "The Time Machine," Well’s first fiction novel, was released the same year. Wells gained rapid popularity as a result of the book, which inspired him to pursue a professional career as a writer.

Political Efforts

Wells referred to his political beliefs as socialist, yet he occasionally differed with other socialists. He was a member of the Fabian Society, a left-wing group affiliated with the Labour Party, for a period, but "left with the Fabians in 1909 on the topic of mass agitation." He ended his relationship with them since they were not radical enough for his views. He became a vocal critic of their economic and educational reform abilities. In 1922 and 1923, he campaigned for London University as a Labour Party candidate, but his faith in the party was already fading.

The concept of the World State was his most consistent political vision. In his book, he indicated that he believed a world state was inevitable from 1900 onward. The specifics of this state varied, but in general, it would be a planned society that promoted science, abolished nationalism, and allowed people to progress exclusively on merit rather than birth. While he believed in meritocracy, he believed that parliamentary democracy was insufficient for a world state. Wells was adamant in his opposition to parliamentary democracy as a foundation for a world state, objecting to any mention of democracy in the United Nations Charter. He believed that the common man would never be educated or informed enough to make decisions about the world's major issues. As a result, he advocated for the vote to be confined to scientists, organisers, engineers, and other deserving citizens. At the same time, he was a firm believer in citizens having as much freedom as possible without jeopardising the freedom of others. From the 1920s onwards, these principles were severely challenged.

Famous Works of H.G. Wells

As we know about his political career, let’s also look at his professional career in this Herbert George Wells Biography article. 

Science fiction, fantasy, dystopian fiction, satire, and tragedy are among the genres covered by Wells' long and short writings. Wells wrote biographies, autobiographies, social comments, and textbooks, as well as social commentary, history, biography, autobiography, and recreational war games.

"The Time Machine," published in 1895, was followed by "The Island of Doctor Moreau," "The Invisible Man," and "The War of the Worlds," all published in 1897. (1898). All four novels have been adapted for film, but Orson Welles' radio adaptation of "The War of the Worlds" was broadcast on October 30, 1938, and is one of the most famous interpretations of a Wells work.

The claims that many listeners were terrified by the thought of an alien invasion because they didn't realise what they were hearing was a radio drama rather than a news broadcast have since been debunked. The panic narrative, on the other hand, was accepted for years and went on to become one of the most enduring urban legends ever created in the service of a Publicity stunt. Wells was a prolific writer of shorter stories and non-fiction, whether it was social and political commentary, scientific journalism, literary criticism, or H.G. Wells autobiography, in addition to his huge output of serialised novels.

Impact

H.G. Wells was fond of referring to his works as "scientific romances." This kind of writing is now known as science fiction. As we understand H.G. Wells Biography, we’ll know that his impact on science fiction is so great. He and French author Jules Verne are dubbed "the father of science fiction." Wells was one of the first authors to write about time machines and alien invasions. His most well-known works have never gone out of print, and their impact may still be seen in contemporary books, films, and television shows. In his writings, Wells proposed a variety of social and scientific predictions that have since come true, including aeroplane and space travel, the atomic bomb, and even the automatic door. Wells' prophetic imaginings are a part of his legacy and one of the things for which he is most known.

Death

Wells became more involved with politics and religion as he continued to work at his typical rate of one or two novels, short stories, or essays each year, though he was vocal in his criticisms of the Catholic church in his later years. After suffering from diabetes for the majority of his life, he chose to found Diabetes UK, the Uk's major diabetes charity, in 1934. On the 13th of August, 1946, he died at his home in London of "unspecified causes." He was 79 years old at the time.

Conclusion

H.G. Wells is famous for his ability to accurately predict a variety of technological and scientific breakthroughs, including the development of the atomic bomb. Wells was a superb prose stylist, and his novels are acclaimed not only for providing insights into science and society but also for being simple and enjoyable to read. Wells was a prolific fiction and nonfiction author who wrote in a variety of genres, including contemporary fiction, history, and social commentary. He was an outspoken socialist as well. Only his early science fiction novels are widely read now since his later works grow increasingly political and social. Wells is frequently referred to as "The Father of Science Fiction," with Hugo Gernsback and Jules Verne because science fiction would be impossible to imagine without his contributions. Wells was remembered as an author, historian, and supporter of certain social and political ideals at the time of his death.