Jules Gabriel Verne (1828-1905), an enormously popular
French writer, is the second most translated (with > 150 languages) individual author in the world (UNESCO Index Translationum), probably the
most widely read novelist, and one of the most influential writers of all time.
Creator of the geographic and scientific novel, he is also acknowledged as the founding father of modern science fiction.
He was born, lived most of his life and died in the French
seaport of Nantes, in Bretagne, upriver from the Bay of Biscay.
In 1851 he graduated from the University of Law in Paris, France.
For a short while he made a living as a playwright and operetta lyricist.
In 1863
he drew upon his interest in natural science, technology, history and geography, studied geology, engineering and astronomy, and started writing a series of 62 novels of extraordinary voyages
(English + Français) written
in form of travel books, in which he anticipated with remarkable foresight many scientific and technological achievements of the 20th century, while catching the enterprising spirit of the 19th century and its uncritical
fascination about scientific progress and inventions.
He predicted modern space, air and underwater travel long before space rockets, navigable aircraft and practical submarines were invented, and also the videophone, the
tank, the artificial satellite, the skyscraper and other modern technological marvels, while inspiring some of the world's foremost scientists.
Besides futuristic vision and scientific detail, his work depicts tension,
adventure and humor.
Most of his books have been translated into all European languages, Japanese and Arabic, and continue to be the inspiration for countless theatre plays, motion pictures and television shows.
To
quote Ray Bradbury (1920-n/a): "...we are all, in one way or another, the children of Jules Verne."
Jules Verne's most famous
novels:
• Five Weeks in A
Balloon | Cinq Semaines en Ballon (1863)
• Journey to The Center of The Earth | Voyage au Centre de La Terre (1864)
• From The Earth to The Moon | De La Terre à La Lune (1865)
• Twenty Thousand Leagues under The
Seas | Vingt Mille Lieues sous Les Mers (1870)
• Around The World in Eighty Days | Le Tour du Monde en Quatre-Vingts Jours
(1873)
• The Mysterious Island | L'Île Mystérieuse (1875)
• Michael Strogoff | Michel Strogoff (1876) |
|
: Science, Astronomy + Space Exploration
