H.G. Wells: Aspects of a Life

by Anthony West

The son of H.G. Wells and Rebecca West provides a biography of his father, chronicling the great English writer's rise to fame and fortune, his relationships with other famous people, and his numerous affairs

Genres: Biography, British Literature

405 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Son of British authors Rebecca West and H. G. Wells, his best-known book is 'H.G. Wells: Aspects of a Life', a biography of his father. 'Heritage' wax culled from autobiographical material so that Dame Rebecca West threatened to sue any English publisher who printed it. None did until after her death.

Not to be confused with the Irish author Anthony C. West.

Reviews

[James Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I classified this biography as literary because of the subject, H. G. Wells; however the author (his son) focuses more on Wells' marital affairs and his own relationship than on literary analysis. That having been said this was an entertaining read, primarily due to the achievements of Wells. He was prescient in his scientific predictions, prolific and popular as an author, and demonstrably radical in his erotic relationships. The literary scene alone would be tantalizing enough for many aficionados of Wells' oeuvre, but the rest of the story certainly spices things up a bit. The result is a fine biography, but look elsewhere for serious literary criticism.

[Vyvyan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reading this as vague background research for my diss. What I have learned is that I'd probably have never gotten half this gossip if I'd read just the academic sources, whee!

[Liedzeit Liedzeit · Rating 2 out of 5]

West was the son of Herbert and Rebecca West. The portrait of his father is interesting but somehow lacks sympathy - or hate. Very bloodless. Also, the composition of the book is very strange. Seems like two books thrown into one. But one learns a bit about Wells. He was probably not the nicest guy on earth. 5/10

[John Correll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gave me a different and unflattering perspective on Wells.

[Rob Bleckly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lucid and eminently readable biography of H G Wells which shows how the man's upbringing, self image and 'free-love' life influenced his work. The Science Fiction, (what were then called Scientific Romances) for which he most noted are only fraction of his prodigious output, none of which made him famous in his own time or were considered his best work. Some like In the Days of the Comet. made him infamous. Osentensibly a simple SF premise, a passing comet leaves a chemical in the air that when breathed nullifies irrational behaviour. It was lambasted for the suggestion that the now rational characters engaged in free love; thus promoting promiscuity.

He was so much more than an author of seminal clever works. For example the biographer (his son) believes he developed the idea of " ... new super businesses and conglomerates as being comparable to the spread of cancer through a living body," through
the novels When the Sleeper Wakes, The Food of the Gods & Tono-Bungay.

After reading this I have come to think the novelty and originality of ideas in his SF sometimes overwhelm the true message. I'm encouraged to read more widely of H.G.Wells work.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, the book was written by Wells's son, so keep that in mind. I preferred the brief sections where the author focuses on Wells's early career as a writer for various London magazines. I love this sort of thing, watching the rising career of a man who at the time of course didn't know he would end up famous. West focuses too much on his father's numerous extramarital affairs, & even psychoanalyzes the participants. This is a valid subject, but not what I was looking for. Still, an interesting & valuable study.