H. G. Wells, The Time Machine

Simon John James (University of Durham)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.08: English Writing and Culture of the early Twentieth Century , 1900-1945.
Vol. editors: Chris Baldick (Goldsmiths College, University of London), Peter Childs (Birmingham Newman University), Louise McDonald (Birmingham Newman University), Andrew Radford (University of Glasgow)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1895

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Novel
Science Fiction

Resources

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H. G. Wells's

The Time Machine: An Invention

is one of the earliest works of English Literature to be set in the distant future, and the first to use technology to transport its hero there. Wells began and then abandoned an earlier and very different version of the novel, published in the

Science Schools Journal

in 1888, entitled “The Chronic Argonauts”.

The Time Machine

was published by Heinemann in May 1895 after having being serialised in a rather different form in the

National Observer

from March to June 1894 (cut short by the journal's change of editor) and in the

New Review

from January to May 1895.

The romance (the term that Wells himself preferred for his scientific fantasy stories) begins within a frame-narrative. The Time Traveller is expounding to an audience, composed of

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1655 words

Citation: James, Simon John. "The Time Machine". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 22 February 2008 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=7937, accessed 19 April 2024.]

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