Scientific and Horrific Stories

H. G. Wells (1866-1946) was an English novelist short story writer and social critic. Born in Kent he was raised in a working-class family alongside three siblings. In 1874 he broke his leg and was bedridden for months generating a lifelong devotion to reading. He was educated at a local private school until a fractured thigh ended his fathers career on the professional cricket circuit. From 1880 to 1883 Wells worked as a drapers apprentice in Southsea a grueling experience that would shape his outlook on society as well as inspire several of his novels. While his mother was employed as a ladys maid at Uppark a country house in Sussex Wells took full advantage of the estates library and found particular inspiration in such classics as Platos Republic and Thomas Mores Utopia. Determined to get an education Wells won a prestigious scholarship to the Normal School of Science in London where he studied biology under Thomas Henry Huxley. Upon leaving school he struggled to find work as a teacher and turned to writing articles to supplement his income. The most productive period of his career came in 1895 following his marriage to Amy Catherine Robbins. While living in Woking Surrey Wells completed or worked on some of his most celebrated works of fiction including The Time Machine (1895) The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896) and The War of the Worlds (1898). Alongside his French contemporary Jules Verne Wells is considered one of the founding figures of modern science fiction for his tales of social unrest utopia time travel alien invasion and nuclear power. He was a committed socialist and a co-founder of The Diabetic Association now known as Diabetes UK. H. G. Wells (1866-1946) was an English novelist short story writer and social critic. Born in Kent he was raised in a working-class family alongside three siblings. In 1874 he broke his leg and was bedridden for months generating a lifelong devotion to reading. He was educated at a local private school until a fractured thigh ended his fathers career on the professional cricket circuit. From 1880 to 1883 Wells worked as a drapers apprentice in Southsea a grueling experience that would shape his outlook on society as well as inspire several of his novels. While his mother was employed as a ladys maid at Uppark a country house in Sussex Wells took full advantage of the estates library and found particular inspiration in such classics as Platos Republic and Thomas Mores Utopia. Determined to get an education Wells won a prestigious scholarship to the Normal School of Science in London where he studied biology under Thomas Henry Huxley. Upon leaving school he struggled to find work as a teacher and turned to writing articles to supplement his income. The most productive period of his career came in 1895 following his marriage to Amy Catherine Robbins. While living in Woking Surrey Wells completed or worked on some of his most celebrated works of fiction including The Time Machine (1895) The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896) and The War of the Worlds (1898). Alongside his French contemporary Jules Verne Wells is considered one of the founding figures of modern science fiction for his tales of social unrest utopia time travel alien invasion and nuclear power. He was a committed socialist and a co-founder of The Diabetic Association now known as Diabetes UK.