The War of the Worlds H.G. Wells

by H.G. Wells

Genres: Classics

218 pages, Paperback

Published June 2, 2024

About the author

Herbert George Wells was born to a working class family in Kent, England. Young Wells received a spotty education, interrupted by several illnesses and family difficulties, and became a draper's apprentice as a teenager. The headmaster of Midhurst Grammar School, where he had spent a year, arranged for him to return as an "usher," or student teacher. Wells earned a government scholarship in 1884, to study biology under Thomas Henry Huxley at the Normal School of Science. Wells earned his bachelor of science and doctor of science degrees at the University of London. After marrying his cousin, Isabel, Wells began to supplement his teaching salary with short stories and freelance articles, then books, including The Time Machine (1895), The Island of Dr. Moreau (1896), The Invisible Man (1897), and The War of the Worlds (1898).

Wells created a mild scandal when he divorced his cousin to marry one of his best students, Amy Catherine Robbins. Although his second marriage was lasting and produced two sons, Wells was an unabashed advocate of free (as opposed to "indiscriminate") love. He continued to openly have extra-marital liaisons, most famously with Margaret Sanger, and a ten-year relationship with the author Rebecca West, who had one of his two out-of-wedlock children. A one-time member of the Fabian Society, Wells sought active change. His 100 books included many novels, as well as nonfiction, such as A Modern Utopia (1905), The Outline of History (1920), A Short History of the World (1922), The Shape of Things to Come (1933), and The Work, Wealth and Happiness of Mankind (1932). One of his booklets was Crux Ansata, An Indictment of the Roman Catholic Church. Although Wells toyed briefly with the idea of a "divine will" in his book, God the Invisible King (1917), it was a temporary aberration. Wells used his international fame to promote his favorite causes, including the prevention of war, and was received by government officials around the world. He is best-remembered as an early writer of science fiction and futurism.

He was also an outspoken socialist. Wells and Jules Verne are each sometimes referred to as "The Fathers of Science Fiction". D. 1946.

More: http://philosopedia.org/index.php/H._...

http://www.online-literature.com/well...

http://www.hgwellsusa.50megs.com/

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/t...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._G._Wells

Reviews

[MATK · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been trying to get a few classics I missed in and decided to give this a go.
It’s important to note I listened to a full theater version that was made to play like it played on the radio as a broadcast.
I understand now why people thought it was real and why we were being invaded. (This originally aired before ww2) From my modern point of view in America with everything going on now in our news I can especially be empathetic and understand if people missed the mentions of martians I can see why people would think foreign countries were invading. It can sound pretty convincing if you weren’t able to immediately fact check it with anything else.

[John Brannigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

a definite classic for obvious reasons (novelty at the time, great writing, etc). the differences in today’s colloquial language to that of the time slows down the reading pace exponentially, especially with multitudinous incredibly descriptive passages. that being said, it’s still a very enjoyable read and a piece of history.

found it funny that he said they solved the problem of flight, as if it was science fiction, which it literally was at the time. love some good old historic dramatic irony.

[Kristin Jensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed some parts of the book, like the thinly veiled critique of the human civilization and conquest, and the disregard or other types of life except for our own species... But I felt that it was dragging at times and I didn't like the end which I think didn't really fit with the book's gloomy vibe.
However, I completely understand why this was such a pivotal book at the time.

[Noebonaerense90 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Para todos los que se rieron de que el hijo de Tom Cruise aparecía al final de la película como por arte de magia. Aprendan, dice Wells. Por otro lado, es muy cinematográfico para narrar Wells, lo que es todo un mérito teniendo en cuenta la época en que escribió.

[John Barclay · Rating 5 out of 5]

It remains a masterpiece. It's interesting that the Welles version from the radio is so imprinted on our minds that reading the original text can still surprise one. So many interesting ideas and such a great premise.

[Jedediah Gorham]

Way ahead of its time. I devoured this classic.

[Linda Rowan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm in a bit of a reading slump, so reading a classic probably wasn't the best idea. I may have enjoyed this more had I read at a different time.

[Olivia Round-Wood · Rating 2 out of 5]

***Actual Rating: 1.5***

maybe i shouldn’t have picked a classic to delve into the sci-fi genre…

[squigglio · Rating 4 out of 5]

hey that was fun. what an exciting breezy read that hardly feels the least bit dated. would love to have been there in the 'tumult.'

[Tixa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[inaya. · Rating 4 out of 5]

the beginning of an era; incredible how creativity flourished during such a time. to become the blueprint of a genre is indeed something.