Born Bromley, Kent. Wrote "The Time Machine", "The War of the Worlds", "The History of Mr Polly" (1909). Married twice but believed in and practised free love. Had many affairs, his mistresses including the novelists Rebecca West and Elizabeth von Arnim. Was a socialist and a member of the Fabian Society. Died at home at Hanover Terrace.
A renowned pacifist, in 1913 Wells published 'Little Wars', a set of rules for playing with toy soldiers. We first heard of it in Philip Ziegler's biography of Diana Cooper: "In 1913 H. G. Wells's game 'Little Wars', played with toy mechanical guns and tin soldiers was all the rage. Diana, Ego Charteris, George Vernon, John Granby and the Austrian Alfy Clary spent all day on their stomachs in a courtyard at Rowsley, shifting the pieces from one place to another."
