H.G. Wells’ 75th Anniversary (Special Edition) Manuscript Box

A prolific writer of many genres, H.G. Wells (1866–1946) wasn’t just a science fiction pioneer, but a futurist whose visions for our future have had a great impact on our modern world. Born to shopkeepers in Kent, England, Wells first trained in biology, piquing his interest in scientific ethics.

His writing career began with short humour articles before he published his first novel, The Time Machine, in 1895. This work was an instant and massive success. He quickly turned out other classics of the genre, including The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896), The Invisible Man (1897) and The War of the Worlds (1898).

True to his futurist self, he also explored new media for his storytelling, including working on Hollywood films and the famous Orson Welles radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds.

As a celebration of his life and legacy on the 75th anniversary of his death, we are honoured to bring his handwritten The Time Machine manuscript, currently in the Rare Book & Manuscript Library at the University of Illinois, to our Paperblanks collection.