H.G. Wells (1866-1946) was a novelist, journalist, sociologist and historian, best-known for his science fiction novels. His first attempt at fiction writing was merely imitative, but he eventually set himself up as a freelance writer. Possessor of a lively and humorous style and the exponent in fiction of the relatively new subject of science, his scientific fantasies were hugely popular. Some of his successful novels are The Time Machine, The Invisible Man, and The War of the Worlds. Beneath his inventiveness lies a passionate concern for humanity and society. With time however, his works grew less optimistic and even bitter.