Time machines and Martians are common themes for literature and entertainment today. They belong to the science fiction genre of writing, but where did they originate? There was a time when these ideas were never even heard of, then H. G. Wells began writing. Herbert George Wells is best known as a pioneer of the modern science fiction novel.

             Wells was born in Bromely Kent, England on September 21, 1866. (Rollyson, 2071) His parents were Joseph and Sarah Wells. His father was a storekeeper and professional cricketeer while his mother was a housekeeper. They had trouble supporting the family. In 1880 Mrs. Wells took post as a housekeeper of Fetherstonhough in Up Park, Sussex. (Rollyson, 2071) This gave Wells a lower-middles class upbringing. His childhood would be reflected in his novels, in the sense of the class division.

             Wells" parents found a job for him when he was fourteen. He was an apprentice for a draper in Windsor. (Rollyson, 2071) At the age of sixteen he received his break. He was offered a job as a student assistant at the Midhurst Grammar School in Sussex. (Draper, 298) .

             This opened the doors for his education. He obtained a scholarship from the Normal School of Science through this position. He attended the school from 1884 to 1889. (Bliss, 432) He studied under Darwin"s champion T. H. Huxley. (Draper, 298) .

             He continued his schooling and would raise himself from the lower middle class. In 1889 he received a Bachelor of Science Degree, graduating with honors. (Bliss, 432) After this he taught at private schools in Whales and London. (Draper, 298) He was suffering from lung hemorrhages and a damaged kidney. This made it impossible for him to teach anymore. So in 1893 ha quit teaching and went to further his career with writing.

             In 1891 Wells married his cousin Isabel Wells. They lived in Wandsworth, London until 1893 when Wells quit teaching. Wells then moved to Euston London with a former student Catherine Robbins.