The Passionate Friends: A Novel - H. G. Wells - The Passionate Friends: A Novel is a 1913 book by H. G. Wells. Written as a narration by the novel's protagonist Stephen Stratton, and addressed to his eldest son. The book follows his life, time in the war, and his troubles with love and relationships. Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 – 13 August 1946) was an English writer. Prolific in many genres, he wrote dozens of novels, short stories, and works of social commentary, history, satire, biography and autobiography. His work also included two books on recreational war games. Wells is now best remembered for his science fiction novels and is sometimes called the "father of science fiction. During his own lifetime, however, he was most prominent as a forward-looking, even prophetic social critic who devoted his literary talents to the development of a progressive vision on a global scale. A futurist, he wrote a number of utopian works and foresaw the advent of aircraft, tanks, spac