H. G. Wells: A Detailed Biography

Herbert George Wells (1866–1946), known as H. G. Wells, was the English writer considered the “father of science fiction”. Author of The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds, and The Invisible Man, he predicted tanks, aerial bombing, nuclear weapons, and television decades early. A socialist, historian, and prolific author (over 100 books), he shaped modern genre fiction and social thought. This biography covers his Kent childhood, scientific romances, socialist activism, personal scandals, and prophetic legacy, as documented by the Encyclopaedia Britannica, the H. G. Wells Society, and the British Library.

Early Life in Bromley

Draper’s Son

Born on September 21, 1866, in Bromley, Kent, to shopkeeper Joseph Wells (former cricketer) and Sarah Neal (lady’s maid). The family was poor; young Herbert broke his leg at 7 and began reading voraciously, as detailed by the H. G. Wells Society.

Apprenticeship and Education

Apprenticed as a draper at 13 (hated it). Won scholarship to Normal School of Science (Imperial College) in 1884, studying under T. H. Huxley. Left without degree in 1887 but later earned BSc in zoology (1890), as documented by the Imperial College.

Scientific Romances (1895–1901)

The Time Machine (1895) — first time travel story. The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896), The Invisible Man (1897), The War of the Worlds (1898) — Martian invasion famously broadcast by Orson Welles in 1938, as preserved by the Library of Congress.

Social Novels and Prophecy

Love and Mr Lewisham (1900), Kipps (1905), Tono-Bungay (1909) — social realism. Anticipations (1901) predicted tanks, aerial warfare, and suburban sprawl. In the Days of the Comet (1906) foresaw sexual liberation, as analysed by the History Today.

Fabian Socialism and World State

Joined Fabian Society 1903 with George Bernard Shaw. Advocated world government in The Open Conspiracy (1928). Supported Labour Party but criticised Stalinism, as documented by the Fabian Society.

Personal Life and Affairs

Married cousin Isabel Mary Wells (1891–1894), then student Amy Catherine “Jane” Robbins (1895–1927). Open marriage with many affairs — Rebecca West (son Anthony West), Amber Reeves, Odette Keun. Known for progressive views on free love, as detailed by the Guardian.

Death and Legacy

H. G. Wells’s Enduring Impact

Wells died of unspecified causes (diabetes complications) on August 13, 1946, in London, aged 79. Cremated at Golders Green; ashes scattered at sea. His scientific romances founded modern SF; his social prophecies influenced Wellsian dystopias and utopias. The H. G. Wells Society and crater on Mars honour him, as celebrated by the SF Encyclopedia.

Frequently Asked Questions About H. G. Wells

Why Is H. G. Wells Famous?

Father of science fiction — The Time Machine, War of the Worlds.

Did Wells Predict Tanks?

Yes — 1903 story “The Land Ironclads”.

Where Was H. G. Wells Born?

Bromley, Kent, September 21, 1866.

What Is The Time Machine About?

First time travel story — future class division.

Was Wells a Socialist?

Yes — Fabian Society member.

Did Wells Have Affairs?

Yes — open marriage, many lovers.

How Did H. G. Wells Die?

August 13, 1946, aged 79.