H G Wells: Not an Invisible Man Quiz

Answer: Kent

Wells was born in Bromley, Kent, on 21st September. His father ran a shop selling cricket goods and china, a rather odd and unsuccessful mixture. Wells senior earned rather more from playing cricket for the county in which they lived, although this was neither a guaranteed nor regular income.

Answer: Herbert George

Herbert George Wells, known as Bertie, was the youngest of four children in the family. His love of literature was established when he sustained a broken leg in 1874, which gave him time to read numerous novels, including Bunyan's 'The Pilgrim's Progress'.

Answer: Drapery

Wells's education had been somewhat erratic and unfocused. His novel, 'The History of Mr Polly', described its inadequacies as suffered by the fictional hero of the book. Following his father's bankruptcy, the shop having finally failed, and Wells was apprenticed to the drapery trade already followed by his older brothers.

His experiences during this unhappy period of his life also formed part of the ineffectual Mr Polly's travails in his novel 'The History of Mr Polly'. Wells has been quoted as saying that Mr Polly is what he might have become had he not been able to escape his intended fate.

Answer: Thomas H Huxley

Having freed himself from his apprenticeship, Wells began working as a teacher while studying himself. He passed several examinations in science topics, which enabled him to attend a school which is now part of the Imperial College of Science and Technology. While there, he was taught biology and zoology by T H Huxley, regarded then (and still) as one of the great scientific men of the era. Wells did not finish his degree, having become bored with the more practical aspects of laboratory work, although he did later achieve his B.Sc., with Honours, in 1890.

Elgar was a composer, Hardy a novelist and Morris an artist and designer.

Answer: The Time Machine

Wells's interest in scientific matters had led to the publication of a biology textbook in 1893 and he had also published other articles and essays. He had begun working on a story about time travelling while still a student and, after many revisions, this was published as 'The Time Machine' in 1895.

The book established Wells as an author, with him and Jules Verne in France being considered the founders of a new type of fiction - the science fiction novel. The hero of 'The Time Machine' is never given a name, being referred to throughout as 'The Time Traveller'. Wells created the expression 'time machine' which has passed into common usage.

Answer: Fabian Society

The Fabian Society was formed to promote socialist ideals, with change via education and persuasion rather than revolutionary methods being the aim. Wells joined the society following an invitation from its leaders, but was not impressed by their methods. He felt there should be less talk and more action, and that the society should become a pressure group pushing for change. Having failed to persuade the society to change, Wells left in 1908 although he continued to pursue socialist ideals.

Answer: Kipps

'Kipps' was published in 1905 and charts the progress of the title character as he negotiates his way through the English class system after receiving an unexpected inheritance. The half sixpence refers to a token given to Kipps by his childhood sweetheart.

The stage version of 'Half a Sixpence' first appeared in 1963 with the film version coming out in 1967; they both starred Tommy Steele. Earlier film adaptations of the novel, both named 'Kipps', had been made in 1921 and 1941.

Answer: Rebecca West

Wells's love life was rather unusual for the time and might raise eyebrows even now. He originally married his cousin, but this marriage collapsed within two years when Wells fell in love with one of the students he was teaching. While waiting for his divorce, Wells lived with his girlfriend, which was far from normal in the late nineteenth century.

After their marriage, Wells fathered two sons with his second wife, but also had several well documented affairs. He fathered a daughter with Amber Reeves and a son, born in 1914, with Rebecca West. Dame Rebecca, as she became in 1959, was a well regarded book reviewer and author herself with many novels and non fiction works, including biographies, to her credit.

Answer: Moreau

'The Island of Doctor Moreau' is one of Wells's science fiction works, telling the story of the titular character who has created humanoid hybrids from various animals. The narrator of the story, who has been abandoned on the island following a shipwreck, learns that Moreau is attempting to transform animals into humans.

The creatures he has seen are part way through their transition. Various film versions of the novel have been made, including one in 1996 with Marlon Brando playing the title role.

Answer: The War of the Worlds

The story of the invasion of Earth, or at least England, by visitors from Mars was originally published as a novel in 1898, having previously appeared as a serial. The story gripped the imagination then and has continued to do so, especially as the invaders are defeated not by man but by bacteria.

The story has been filmed numerous times, including by Steven Spielberg in 2005, with Tom Cruise. Orson Welles broadcast an adaptation on radio in 1938 which led some listeners to believe America was under attack in reality. Jeff Wayne created a musical version in 1978 with Richard Burton narrating the story. The album included the song 'Forever Autumn', which became a hit for Justin Hayward in 1978.