Writer H.G. Wells Loved To Predict The Future, But Some Of His Prophecies Were Eerily Accurate

H.G. Wells was among the leading sci-fi writers of his era. His towering novels include The Time Machine, The Invisible Man and The War of the Worlds – to name but three. So it’s easy to see that his legacy as a visionary endures to this day. Yet while Wells’ most famous works are found in the fiction section, some of his predictions of the future turned out to be spookily accurate. And one particular prophecy seems especially relevant today.

An Incredible Imagination

Wells is, of course, credited with shaping the way we see the world. His incredible imagination placed Wells among the most regarded writers of his generation. During his lifetime, however, no one could have known just how accurate Wells’ vision of the future would turn out to be.

It Happens To Everyone

Yet, as far as we know, Wells didn’t predict the details of his death. The writer eventually died of unknown causes at his London home on August 13, 1946, at the age of 79. But Wells did provide a suggestion for his epitaph: “I told you so. You damned fools.” And when you take a look at some of the prophecies Wells made throughout his life, you’ll agree that this inscription couldn’t be more fitting.

Humble Beginnings

Herbert George Wells was born in Bromley, a suburb of southeast London, on September 21, 1866. He came from a working-class family, with his mother, Sarah, having worked as a domestic servant and his father, Joseph, as a gardener. By the time Wells was born, however, the family had acquired an inheritance that enabled them to open a shop.

Falling On Hard Times

The store sold sporting goods – no doubt reflecting Wells’ father’s interests as a professional county cricket player. The shop didn’t make enough money, though, and the business eventually failed. As a result, Wells’ family were plunged into economic hardship, and his mother returned to work as a domestic servant.