H.G. Wells (1866–1946) now may be most famous as one of the acknowledged fathers of modern science fiction/fantasy, with such works as The Time Machine, The Invisible Man, and The War of the Worlds, all written in the 1890s, later made into movies, and still eagerly read today. He was one of the most prolific writers of his era in many genres, active in progressive politics, and deeply engaged with the leading literary, scientific, and political figures of his time. Thus, in this first full-length biography of Wells in over 15 years, his life makes for fascinating reading, in many ways like a work of fiction, with his multiple wives, mistresses, and children born in and out of wedlock and his rags-to-riches story. Sherborne (English & humanities, Luton Sixth Form Coll., UK) gives readers a detailed account of Wells's unusual life, offering new information and sourcing about one of Wells's many mistresses, Amber Reeves, and their daughter and tackling Wells's tremendous output of writing, including his Experiment in Autobiography.
VERDICT Accessible to readers interested either in the roots of science fiction/fantasy or in literary biography, but scholarly enough for literature students as well.
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